As a part of a healthy diet initiative, Australia's leading food manufacturers are going to do us all a favour, by cutting the amount of salt in breakfast cereals and bread.

A pact to decrease the salt level of many instant cereals, breads, roll and buns has been recently signed, as a move to get Australians to eat a more healthy diet.

The pact of the Food and Health Dialogue involves the government, health industry and many major health bodies in the country including the CSIRO and the Heart Foundation.

Companies like Kelloggs, Sanitarium, grocers Coles and Wooltworths have promised to cut down the salt levels in cereals by 15 per cent within the next four years. The cut applies to those with a sodium content of over 400 milligrams per 100 grams.

The salt level cut for breads will be done by the manufacturers as early as by the end of 2013.

Kate Carnell, boss of the Australian Food and Grocery Council said it was an important health step move, but noted Australia's food industry was already punching well above its weight.

Ms Carnell said more than 70 per cent of ready-to-eat cereals were already below the salt target in their category. She added that consumers can soon expect processed meats, soups, sauces and other snack foods to adopt similar salt reduction goals.

Australia Diet