Salt levels in pesto sauces on sale in supermarkets remain higher than suggested limits and have increased in some cases, despite a government health campaign to reduce them, a survey has found.

Two products made by Sacla, the UK’s bestselling pesto brand, have 30% more salt than seawater and two and a half times as much salt per 100g as peanuts, according to research by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash).

Sacla’s No 1 Classic Basil Pesto has 18% more salt than when it was last surveyed in 2009, while its No 5 Organic Basil Pesto has 32% more than previously. Both contain more than 1.5g of salt per serving, more than a McDonald’s hamburger, and 3.3g of salt per 100g. For pesto and other thick sauces, the average salt target is 1.38g per 100g, but nearly 40% of products exceed this.

Cash is calling on Public Health England (PHE) to be tougher on the food industry because it is concerned that with fewer than three months of 2017 remaining, some manufacturers are failing to meet the Department of Health’s salt reduction targets for a wide range of foods.

The health group collected and analysed nutritional data for 75 pesto sauces on sale in major supermarkets in June and July. Among the other brands, Napolina Green Pesto with Basil, Gino D’Acampo Pesto alla Genovese Basil Pesto and Truly Italian Genovese Basil Pesto contained between 2g and 2.5g of salt per 100g.

Tesco Reduced Fat Red Pesto, Aldi’s Specially Selected Italian Pesto Genovese and Specially Selected Pesto Rosso, Jamie Oliver Green Pesto and Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Pesto Alla Genovese fared better, with less than 1g of salt per 100g.

Pesto is a convenient addition to pasta and popular with children, making it a bigger contributor to their maximum recommended daily salt intake, which is much lower for children than adults. In the long term, consuming more than is recommended could increase a child’s risk of developing high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks later in life.

According to the NHS, the maximum daily recommended amount of salt children should eat is 2g for one to three-year-olds, 3g for four to six-year-olds and 5g for seven to 10-year-olds. Adults should eat no more than 6g of salt per day.

Graham MacGregor, the Cash chairman and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London, said: “The UK was leading the world in salt reduction, but so far, PHE is doing little to ensure that the 2017 salt targets are met, and has not confirmed that they are setting new targets to be achieved by 2020.”

Pesto is also high in saturated fat, further increasing the risk of heart disease. People are being encouraged to make their own using a simple and easy recipe, which can be stored in the fridge for up to seven days.

A Sacla spokesperaon said: “We work hard to make authentic Italian products which are good quality, safe to eat and should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.”

PHE’s chief nutritionist, Dr Alison Tedstone, said: “We’ve been very clear with the food industry on the importance of reducing salt and meeting the 2017 salt targets.

“Although consumption has reduced by 11%, industry cannot be complacent and PHE will report on their progress next year.”