Popular food sauces from Dolmio and Uncle Ben's are so high in salt, fat and sugar that they should be eaten only once a week – says the company that makes them.

Mars Food has announced that it will put a 'once a week' health warning on products enjoyed by millions of families.

The move is part of a wider effort to improve health and nutrition and has been welcomed by campaigners.

However, they have demanded wider action, including legal targets requiring all food and drink companies to cut sugar, salt and fat. Mars says it will divide its home cooking products and pasta sauces into two categories, 'occasional' and 'everyday'.

The range of Dolmio products will contain new labelling with 'once a week' guidelines as part of a guide for shoppers to make informed nutritional choices

The company said products classified as 'occasional' tend to be higher in salt, sugar and fat and therefore should be eaten only once a week.

It said products in this category include Dolmio Lasagne Meal Kits, Lasagne Sauces and Dolmio Oven Bake Kits – Macaroni and Cheese, Carbonara and Creamy Tomato. Dolmio Pesto, which like other pesto is high in salt, will also be listed as an occasional treat.

Internationally, the company pledged to change product recipes to reduce salt levels by 20 per cent by 2021 and cut the amount of added sugar in some products by 2018.

In the UK, a handful of oriental Uncle Ben's Rice Time Lunch Pots and oriental Uncle Ben's sauces will be reformulated to reduce the sugar.

The company has also promised to improve its jars of tomato-based sauces to ensure they include at least one serving of vegetables.

Some 70 per cent of its tomato-based products already meet this standard, including Dolmio Bolognese Sauces, Dolmio Express Sauces and Dolmio Pasta Vita Lunch Pots.

Currently, 34 per cent of Uncle Ben's rice products in the UK contain healthy whole grains, but the company plans to push this up to 50 per cent.

The move by Mars foods is part of a wider effort to improve health and nutrition and has been welcomed by campaigners

Its Uncle Ben's rice products will be reformed so half of them include either whole grains and/or legumes while all of Dolmio's tomato-based products will contain a portion of vegetables

Dolmio Italian-themed cooking sauces have been the most popular pasta sauces in the UK, with 52 per cent of the British market in 2013, according to the Grocery Eye survey. Uncle Ben's is also popular with families, as well as appearing on school and hospital menus. Mars has already announced health improvements to its chocolate bars to cut fat and calories.

In some cases this has involved tweaking the ingredients, but in others they have simply cut the size. The changes are part of a the company's global Health and Wellbeing Ambition to promote healthier food choices.

The company said: 'To maintain the authentic nature of the recipe, some Mars Food products are higher in salt, added sugar or fat. As these products are not intended to be eaten daily, Mars Food will provide guidance to consumers on-pack and on its website.

'The Mars Food website will be updated within the next few months with a list of 'occasional' products – those to be enjoyed once per week – and a list of 'everyday' products – including those to be reformulated over the next five years to reduce sodium, sugar, or fat.'

It said the changes would apply to its global portfolio of brands, including Dolmio, Uncle Ben's and Masterfoods, in an effort to 'inspire consumers around the world to cook and eat healthier'. Food giants are under pressure to help head off a global obesity crisis and the costs of related health conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and tooth decay. Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum, called the move by Mars 'imaginative'.

DOLMIO PRODUCTS: FAT, SUGAR AND SALT LEVELS Dolmio Pesto Classic Basil 180g jar Per 100g 52g fat 3.3g sugar 1.4g salt Dolmio Original Lasagne Kit 2 Person 525g Serves 2 Per 100g 3.5g fat 4.4g sugar 0.5g salt The Dolmio Original Lasagne Kit for two people is set to carry a warning saying it should only be eaten 'occasionally' as it contains 3.5g fat, 4.4g sugar and 0.5g salt per 100g Dolmio Original Lasagne Kit Serves 4 807g Per 100g 3.5g fat 4.2g sugar 0.5g salt Dolmio Sauce for Lasagne Original Cheesy 470g Per 100g 8.1g fat 2.3g sugar 0.8g salt Dolmio Sauce for Lasagne Original Tomato 500g Per 100g 0.2g fat 6.4g sugar 0.8g salt Dolmio's original tomato lasagne sauce (left) will also carry an 'occasional' label as it contains 0.2g fat, 6.4g sugar and 0.8g salt per 100g while its pesto contains 52g fat, 3.3g sugar and 1.4g salt, while its cheesy sauce contains 8.1g of fat, 2.3g of sugar and 0.8g of salt Dolmio Oven Bake Kit Macaroni & Cheese 550g Per 100g 0.7g fat 1.3g sugar 0.2g salt Dolmio Oven Bake Kit Creamy Tomato 551g Per 100g 0.9g fat 2.2g sugar 0.2g salt Dolmio Oven Bake Kit Carbonara 555g Per 100g Fat 0.9g Sugars 1.4g Salt 0.3g Source: Dolmio Advertisement

He said: 'Mars signposted their direction of travel towards healthier products several years ago and are now putting their money where their mouth is.

'In general we have lost the concept of a treat – something extra tasty to be looked forward to at the end of a long week or on a special occasion.'

Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London, said voluntary measures are welcome, but changes are needed across the industry.