UK adults consume as much salt as 155 crisp packets a week, raising risks of heart failure, diabetes and dementia.
The NHS advises adults to eat no more than 6g of salt a day, about a teaspoon, including salt already in foods and any added.
However, most adults consume around 8.4g daily, about 40 per cent above the recommended maximum, according to the latest figures.
The British Heart Foundation said this equals six packets of ready-salted crisps too many each day and is calling on the government to make healthier choices more accessible.
The charity wants mandatory targets in the government’s upcoming Healthy Food Standard initiative to incentivise major food companies to cut salt levels in products.
Dell Stanford, a senior BHF dietitian, said: “Most of the salt we eat is hidden in the food we buy, such as bread, cereals, pre-made sauces and ready meals, so it’s hard to know how much salt we’re consuming.”
“This is bad news for our heart health, as eating too much salt significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, a major cause of heart attacks, strokes and other serious diseases.”
Excess sodium is a major driver of high blood pressure, known as hypertension, which is linked to half of all heart attacks and strokes.
Reducing UK salt intake in line with official guidelines by 2030 could prevent around 135,000 new cases of heart disease, according to research cited by the BHF.
A Department of Health spokesperson asaid: “This government is taking strong action to tackle health problems caused by poor diet as part of our 10-year health plan, which will shift the focus of care from sickness to prevention.
“We are restricting advertising of junk food on TV and online, limiting volume price promotions on less healthy foods, including those high in salt, and introducing mandatory reporting on healthier food sales.”