The Heart Foundation continues to make improvements in reducing sugar from low-cost foods

The charity's Food Reformulation programme has seen around 760 tonnes of sugar removed from targeted categories in supermarkets each year.

It was originally set up in 2007 to decrease the levels of salt, but was extended to include sugar eight years ago.

Chief advisor of food and nutrition Dave Monro says New Zealand's salt and sugar intake is high - with a large amount coming from processed foods.

He says high intakes of salt are linked with high blood pressure while high intakes of sugar can cause high cholesterol levels and increased body weight.