FDA Should Pass The Salt…Standards

Editor's note: In addition to Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Sen. Tom Harkin also coauthored this post. For years, Americans have been inundated with messages about the dangers posed by the food we eat whether from fat, carbohydrates, or sugar. But another additive lurks in virtually every package and bag on the supermarket shelves, as well as practically every restaurant meal, and it is having a dire impact on our health. That additive is sodium, and Americans are consuming far too much, with profoundly negative consequences on our health and well-being as a country. It is time for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take serious and meaningful action to address this trend and issue federal standards to reduce the amount of salt in our foods. Current dietary guidelines recommend that most individuals between the ages of 2 and 50 consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, or approximately one teaspoon of salt. For the roughly two-thirds of Americans in an at-risk population – seniors, African-Americans, those with high blood pressure, and individuals susceptible to hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease – only 1,500 milligrams is recommended.
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: All Categories Health Care Costs Health Reform Policy Prevention Public Health Source Type: blogs