POST Online Media Lite Edition



 

FDA issues food industry guidance for voluntarily reducing sodium in processed and packaged foods

Christian Fernsby |
A cornerstone of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's public health mission is to reduce the burden of chronic disease through improved nutrition.

Article continues below




As a nation, Americans are facing a growing epidemic of preventable, diet-related conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, and the agency's work in this area has become even more urgent.

For these reasons, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking a critical step to further address preventable diet-related chronic diseases and advance health equity that we hope will become one of the most significant public health nutrition interventions in a generation.

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing a final guidance, "Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foods," which provides voluntary short-term sodium reduction targets for food manufacturers, chain restaurants and food service operators for 163 categories of processed, packaged and prepared foods.

By limiting certain nutrients like sodium in our diets, we can help prevent diseases like hypertension and cardiovascular disease that disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority groups, often resulting in hundreds of thousands of lives lost and billions in annual health care costs.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified these health disparities and the need for improved nutrition, as people with cardiovascular disease and other underlying conditions are at increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.

Research shows that people consume 50% more sodium than recommended.

This includes our youngest and most vulnerable populations, with more than 95% of children aged 2 to 13 years old exceeding recommended limits of sodium for their age groups.

Although many consumers may want to reduce their sodium intake, about 70% of the sodium we eat comes from packaged, processed and restaurant foods, making it challenging to limit sodium.

Changes across the overall food supply will make it easier to access lower-sodium options and reduce intake even in the absence of behavior change.

The targets in the final guidance seek to decrease average sodium intake from approximately 3,400 milligrams (mg) to 3,000 mg per day, about a 12% reduction, over the next 2.5 years.

Although the average intake would still be above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans' recommended limit of 2,300 mg per day for those 14 and older, we know that even these modest reductions made slowly over the next few years will substantially decrease diet-related diseases.

The final guidance outlines short-term goals that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending the food industry work to meet as soon as possible to help optimize public health.

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will continue discussions with the food industry as we monitor the sodium content of the food supply to evaluate progress.

In the future, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plan to issue revised, subsequent targets to further lower the sodium content incrementally and continue to help reduce sodium intake.

This iterative approach will help support gradual reductions in sodium levels broadly across the food supply so that consumers' tastes adjust, health outcomes improve and no one company or category of food is singled out or scrutinized.

Voluntary and gradual approaches such as this have also been successful in other countries, such as Canada and the U.K.


What to read next

WHO recommendations for salt intake are greatly wrong
Accurate measurements of salt intake confirm relationship with mortality
FDA seeks permanent injunctions against two stem cell clinics

Heavy snow continues in Southern Rockies

 
A significant heavy snow event is underway over portions of the central/southern Rockies and High Plains early Friday.
 
 

Latest

U.S. rig count stays same, Canadian falls
Nebraska Governor leads state delegation to Czech Republic and Germany
IQE, Inc. to add 109 jobs in Greensboro, North Carolina
CMC Electronics will create 89 new jobs in Reston, Virginia

NEWS

Spanish government announces 10.6B euro aid for flood-hit area

Excessive rainfall and flooding threat in Puerto Rico and New Mexico
Record heat in southern U.S.
Peru's ex-president Alejandro Toledo sentenced to 20 years in prison over corruption
U.S. weather: Dry in east; active pattern for west
Finland wins European Transport Safety Council’s road safety prize for 2024
 

BUSINESS

U.S. now second-largest supplier of goods to Netherlands

U.S. oil and gas rig count unchanged stays at 585
Governor Moore commends launch of double-stack rail operations at Port of Baltimore
Iran lifts ban on brand-new Apple phones import
Istanbul provides free public transport for unemployed residents
EIB backs Gran Canaria with €300 million loan for Salto de Chira hydroelectric project
 

Trending Now

Romania eyes restart of sheep exports to Morocco

IQE, Inc. to add 109 jobs in Greensboro, North Carolina

Fraport tests sustainable asphalt based on cashew nuts

€700,000 from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund will support 632 dismissed workers in Belgium


POLITICS

Australia finalises trade deal with UAE

Canada orders TikTok to close its business in country
​Sweden rejects plans for 13 wind farms over Russian missile threat
€700,000 from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund will support 632 dismissed workers in Belgium
New Jersey Governor Murphy to lead economic mission to UK
Indonesia bans sales of Google's Pixel smartphones
 

Today We Recommend

Spanish government announces 10.6B euro aid for flood-hit area


Highlights 

IQE, Inc. to add 109 jobs in Greensboro, North Carolina

CMC Electronics will create 89 new jobs in Reston, Virginia

Changi Airport to invest S$3 billion on upgrading facilities


COMPANIES

Changi Airport to invest S$3 billion on upgrading facilities

Fraport tests sustainable asphalt based on cashew nuts
Rio Tinto and China’s State Power Investment Corporation to trial battery swap truck technology
Hapag-Lloyd invests $4B in 24 new container ships
MEPPI will create at least 200 new jobs in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Solarcycle will create 640 new full-time jobs in Polk County, Georgia
 

CAREERS

President and CEO of Fortaco to retire

Stellantis leverages its management organisation
African Development Bank appoints director general for East Africa
Mars announces new leadership within its petcare business
OCI Global announces leadership changes
Ethypharm appoints Éric Chevalier as group human resources director
 

ECONOMY

Fraser Institute: Canada’s debt ranking falls from best in G7 to 7th worst

Kuwait reports $5.2 bln budget deficit in FY 2023-24
Eurozone reports modest Q1 GDP growth, stable annual inflation
Italy sees faster economic growth in Q1
Slovenia's economy expected to grow 0.9 pct in Q1
Italy faces deficit infringement procedure
 

EARNINGS

Ericsson Q2 sales down but North America up

Lockton revenue $3.55 billion
Motorcar Parts of America Q4 sales $189.5 million
Limoneira Q2 revenue $44.6 million
Lululemon athletica Q1 revenue increased 10% to $2.2 billion
PVH Q1 GAAP EBIT $205 million
 

OP-ED

Micromanaging is the worst enemy of efficiency and teamwork

Niger set to monetize massive gas reserves through Saharan natural gas pipeline
Putting the brakes on EV folly that choked the market
Oil discovery in Kavango Basin may mean huge benefits for Namibians
Cape Town and Dubai battle over Africa's energy future
Is America going to lose its superpower status?
 

AGRIFISH

Albania fights bird flu with poultry import ban

Romania eyes restart of sheep exports to Morocco
U.S. confirms H5N1 bird flu in swine for first time
Bluetongue outbreaks escalate in Czech Republic
French farmers to resume nationwide protests in November
Greece on alert after outbreak of sheep pox
 

LEADERSHIP

Study: Missing a deadline has a bigger impact than you might think

Employers prefer younger job candidates for AI roles although experienced workers perform same or better
Study finds workers misjudge wage markets
Some organizations may need to expand their hierarchical structures earlier than others
Study finds there's right way and wrong way to deliver negative feedback in workplace
Allyship is critical and its needs appreciation
 

CRIME

BHP, Vale agree to pay $30B damages for Brazil dam disaster

Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million over collusion to exclude common compe
SEC charges Keurig with making inaccurate statements regarding recyclability of K-Cup beverage pod
SEC charges John Deere with FCPA violations for subsidiary’s role in Thai bribery scheme
AG Bonta secures $3.9 million settlement with cryptocurrency company Robinhood
Italy issues $6.4 million fine over Chinese cars badged as Italian
 

Magazine

TRAVEL

Radisson Hotel Group debuts in the heart of Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis

Morocco’s first Radisson branded hotel opens in Casablanca
Buna channels, an unreal and beautiful part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
JW Marriott unveils Mindful Haven with opening of JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Sotheby's Sports Week returns with fantastic artifacts
Red Roof properties open in Michigan
 

SEA, LAND, AIR

Citroën C3 Aircross, the most affordable compact SUV with 7 seats

2025 Chevrolet Equinox stands apart with fresh looks and capability
Hill Helicopters HX50, luxury in the sky
Opel Movano becomes fully equipped camper van
Porsche Panamera, new hybrid variants
Dodge Charger, 670 horsepower of electric
 

DESIGN

Cold night, hot fire pit, cool entertainment

Embellish your home with PVC panels
You'll have to hurry if you want one of 20 new Louis Vuitton watches
Luxury duvet looks good, fells good and keeps you healthy
Vacheron Constantin, watches for life and more
Schüller kitchens, where functionality marries design
 

GADGETS

MESA/Boogie Celebrates 40-year partnership with John Petrucci

reMarkable 2, monochrome tablet for your thoughts and your eyes
OnePlus Ace 3V, first with Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, flagship with a reason
Samsung Galaxy S24 is photography powerhouse
Casette tapes are making a big comeback, and so are portable players
 

HEALTH

One more barrier to developing vaccine for HIV removed

Rwanda begins world's first clinical trial for treatment of Marburg virus disease
Rwanda restricts gatherings amid Marburg virus outbreak, to begin trials of vaccine
Teksas Attorney General reaches settlement in first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation
Potentially deadly fungal disease spreading in California
First mpox vaccines arrive in Africa
 

MEANTIME

Einstein Telescope step closer

Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026
India to build first phase of its own space station by 2028
Roscosmos chief approves schedule of creating Russian orbital station through 2033
Potentially habitable 'exo-Venus' with Earth-like temperature discovered
Rare species of wild bees discovered in Berlin