FDA will limit amount of salt allowed in processed foods for health reasons

[Celebration]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/19/AR2010041905049.html?hpid=topnews

The Food and Drug Administration is planning an unprecedented effort to gradually reduce the salt consumed each day by Americans, saying that less sodium in everything from soup to nuts would prevent thousands of deaths from hypertension and heart disease. The initiative, to be launched this year, would eventually lead to the first legal limits on the amount of salt allowed in food products.

The government intends to work with the food industry and health experts to reduce sodium gradually over a period of years to adjust the American palate to a less salty diet, according to FDA sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the initiative has not been formally announced.

Officials have not yet determined the salt limits. In a complicated undertaking, the FDA would analyze the salt in spaghetti sauces, breads and thousands of other products that make up the $600 billion food and beverage market, sources said. Working with food manufacturers, the government would set limits for salt in these categories, designed to gradually ratchet down sodium consumption. The changes would be carefully calibrated so that, hopefully, consumers barely notice the modification.

The legal limits would be open to public comment, but administration officials do not think they need additional authority from Congress.

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. It's about time

Processed foods are often the cheapest, so for people who can't afford the better quality food for whatever reason, they're usually left with high sodium, high fructose corn syrup infected toxic waste. There's no need for all this salt, or MSG or whatever. If something needs flavor enhancement, just add garlic or hot peppers to it. Preferrably both, in fact just keep a bottle of this handy, and it takes care of everything.....

[Warpy]

6. I love that stuff and squirt it onto or into most things

but I'm a chile head. Most people will want a drop instead of a squirt.

Funny, I don't like catsup at all. I'll use Sriracha or a chunky salsa, but never catsup.

[Dorian Gray]

7. Sriracha!

The condiment of the gods!

[BadgerKid]

2. Hypertension is a biggie. Manufacturers will probably

substitute with sweeteners to cover up poor-tasting but edible food.

[pinto]

3. A good move and one could state the obvious - You want more salt, add it at home.

:hi:

[Celebration]

4. YEP!!

Salt isn't a problem for everyone, but it is a huge problem for some people. Salt's cheap, and so are salt shakers. Everyone needs to add their own, to taste. Not that hard, even for the fast food crowd.

[kestrel91316]

5. I can hear the agonized wails of the corporate food CEO's now, as they

bemoan how this is going to DESTROY their profits!!!

[trotsky]

8. Actually, I think this would work the other way.

Government mandates have a way of leveling the playing field. Think of auto safety. Nobody wants to bear the burden of being the ONLY car company to put seat belts in their cars; it's an extra cost and would give their competitor an advantage. However if the government mandates seat belts, the field is level and now they can focus on other aspects of their vehicles to differentiate themselves. The opportunity for profit is greater.