FDA takes on board the salt issue

Nov 27 2007

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has announced a public hearing on its policies regarding salt and sodium in food.

The hearings will initiate a discussion on whether or not the amount of salt used in processed foods should be limited and the FDA is encouraging comments from the public.

The hearings are the results of continued lobbying by health advocates and the American Heart Association who have for many years have been criticising the negative affects from the over consumption of salt.

The FDA says a citizen petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), has requested that changes be made to the regulatory status of salt, limits placed on salt in processed foods, and health messages delivered in relation to salt and sodium intake.

It is well known that salt ingested in more than the recommended amounts can is very bad for the health, as it significantly contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and even death.

The hearings are scheduled to begin on November 29th and many companies who produce processed foods and use salt as a preservative and as a seasoning, are resisting labeling that they feel could scare off customers.

Some however have stated that they are already cutting back the amounts of salt that they put into their products.

Experts recommend a person has no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt each day, which equates to about a teaspoon, but it is estimated that Americans ingest more than 3,000 milligrams of sodium a day.

Approximately 75% of that daily salt intake comes from eating processed foods.