Takeaway owners in Bradford are being urged to help save lives by joining in a salt pot amnesty.

The district’s Good Food Team want to see as many as possible standard 17-hole salt pots exchanged for five-hole ones to reduce how much comes out.

Bradford Council is supporting the national campaign led by the Food Standards Agency, which recommends adults and children aged 11 or more should eat no more than the equivalent of one level teaspoonful of salt a day.

Salt is linked to heart disease and recent figures from Public Health England suggest there were 1,174 premature deaths from heart disease and strokes across the Bradford district between 2009 and 2011. Nationally 85 per cent of men and 69 per cent of women eat too much salt.

Any business with a food hygiene rating of three stars and above which wants to take part in the Good Food Award can claim reduced-hole salt pots for free.

As part of the Council-run awards, business owners are also encouraged to provide healthier options that include more fruit and vegetables, grilled or baked options and pure fruit juices or water.

The Good Food awards will go to food businesses who made changes to reduce levels of fat, salt and sugar. Dr Matthew Fay, GP principal at the Westcliffe Medical Practice in Shipley, said: “To change the city’s problems with strokes and heart attacks will take a great deal of effort by the population of Bradford through lifestyle changes and the clinical community with health checks and medication. Asking the food outlets in the city to help us control our salt intake can only be another source of support.”

Bradford Councillor Val Slater, chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee, said: “Using the new five-hole salt pots as part of the Good Food Award initiative will help improve the long-term health of people who live and work in Bradford.”

To join the amnesty call Julia Hall on (0113) 393 9813 or e-mail jhall@wyjs.org.uk.