FDA calls for less salt in processed foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants the food industry to cut back on the salt. In draft voluntary guidelines issued Wednesday, the agency set both two-year and 10-year goals for lower sodium content in hundreds of processed and prepared foods. The aim is to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke among Americans, according to the FDA. Many Americans want to reduce sodium in their diets, but thats hard to do when much of it is in everyday products we buy in stores and restaurants, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in an FDA statement. Todays announcement is about putting power back in the hands of consumers, so that they can better control how much salt is in the food they eat and improve their health, she added. Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, elaborated on the health risks salt poses during a Wednesday morning news conference on the proposed guidelines. Heart attack and stroke is the leading killer in the United States, and high blood pressure is a leading risk factor contributing to more than 1,000 deaths per day, he said. HealthDay
