International News.jpg
Salt Targets Could Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Burden and Health Expenditures
Reducing salt intake to less than 5 grams per day (about 1,900 milligrams of sodium) could reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease by 11% and significantly decrease out-of-pocket health expenditures, according to a modeling study of South Africa’s salt reduction policy that was presented at the World Congress of Cardiology 2014. The study authors used surveys and epidemiological data to calculate the potential health and economic impacts of salt targets set in 2013 by the South African government, which employs mandatory maximum levels in common processed foods and public education campaigns to reduce daily salt intake below 5 grams by 2020. The reduction in salt consumption was associated with a $51 million per-year reduction in government health subsidies and a $4 million reduction in individual out-of-pocket expenses, particularly among the lower-middle, middle, and upper-middle classes. – The Oncology Report
Loblaw to Reduce Sodium in President’s Choice by 20%
Loblaw Companies, Canada’s largest retailer, has pledged to reduce sodium levels by 20% in 2014 and 2015 across 400 products in President’s Choice, one of Canada’s top consumer brands. The retailer will focus on sauces, dressings, bakery items, and other categories that have traditionally posed the biggest sodium-reduction challenges. “While many Canadians have learned to better control their own salt shaker, food manufacturers still wield an industrial-sized shaker, controlling the unseen sodium that seasons the Canadian diet,” said executive chairman Galen Weston. In the past 4 years, Loblaw has cut more than 330,000 pounds of sodium across 471 products sold under President’s Choice, no name, Farmer’s Market, and other brands and has introduced new products with lower sodium levels. – Supermarket News
The “Healthy” Dinners Laced with Salt
Many food products promoted as low fat or healthy options contain levels of salt that experts and campaigners warn are “unnecessarily high.” An analysis by The Telegraph showed that some products marketed as “light” or “healthy” contain more salt than their full-fat equivalents. A survey of 30 items found that many contained more than 1.8 grams of salt (about 700 milligrams of sodium) in a portion, meaning they would be given red labels under the British government’s “traffic light” approach tor food packaging. Several products consumed in smaller portions, including “Be Good to Yourself” bacon and cheese and “extra light” mayonnaise, contained concentrations of salt deemed “high” under the country’s guidelines. Experts accused retailers of selling “deceptive” products that are aimed at consumers wanting to eat healthfully but which contain high levels of salt. – The Telegraph