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The Food and Drug Administration, referring to the epidemic of diet-related diseases, issued new guidelines On Wednesday, it aimed to reduce the amount of sodium Americans consume when eating packaged and ready-to-eat foods in restaurants, school cafeterias and food trucks, or at home.
advices, published years later, By encouraging food manufacturers, restaurants and catering companies to reduce their salt use, it aims to reduce their average daily sodium intake by 12 percent over the next two and a half years. That target translates to 3,000 milligrams — about a teaspoon — of salt, compared to the 3,400 milligrams Americans typically consume in a day.
America’s love affair with salty foods is worryingly linked. high blood pressure ratesIt is a leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. More than 4 in 10 American adults have high blood pressure; Among Black adults, that number is 6 in 10, the FDA said.
About 70 percent of this excess sodium comes from processed and packaged foods and meals served in restaurants. according to researchers.
Acting FDA commissioner Dr. In a statement announcing the new guidelines, Janet Woodcock said they were the first step in a multi-year campaign to gradually reduce the nation’s sodium intake, thereby becoming more compliant with current regulation. Dietary Guidelines for AmericansSuggesting a healthy diet should contain no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.
The FDA said reducing sodium intake by about 40 percent over ten years could save 500,000 lives.
While nutritionists and public health experts commended the FDA for taking on the problem, many said the voluntary measures didn’t move the needle very much. Some experts have proposed mandatory limits on sodium, although they acknowledge that the formidable power of the food industry makes such measures possible at the federal level.
The American Heart Association said in a statement that the recommendations were an important step in reducing sodium intake, but urged the FDA to lower its daily target to 2,300 milligrams.
Michael Jacobson, a longtime advocate of healthier diets and author of the book “The Salt Wars: The Battle Over The American Diet’s Biggest Killer,” said he’s glad the FDA has finally taken action—five years after the agency published its decision. draft guide. But he said it’s been four decades since an FDA advisory committee first warned of the dangers of excessive salt consumption, and recommended that steps be taken to reduce its importance in the American diet.
“It’s very sad to see the government being so reluctant about such a serious health issue,” he said.
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