The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday its goal of reducing sodium in processed and packaged foods by 20%.
In a statement, the FDA said that “prior to 2021, the average consumer intake (of sodium) was about 3,400 milligrams per day, well above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams per day for people 14 years of age and older.”
The FDA had established guidelines in October 2021 to reduce the presence of partner in foods.
Under the new target, daily consumption of tobacco products would be reduced to around 2,750 milligrams. “This reduction is approximately 20% lower than pre-2021 consumption levels,” the text said.
“Reducing sodium in foods can become one of the most important public health initiatives in a generation“The early successes we are seeing with reducing sodium in certain foods are encouraging and indicative of the impact we believe our comprehensive approach to nutrition can have on societal well-being,” Jim Jones, FDA deputy commissioner for food, said in the release.
“In addition to our efforts to reduce sodium, the FDA is also working on an upcoming final rule that updates the definition of the ‘healthy’ claim, a proposed rule for front-of-package nutrition labeling, and exploring ways to reduce added sugars,” she added.
The FDA’s statement stressed that the United States is facing a growing epidemic of diet-related chronic diseases.
“Excess sodium can raise blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. There is strong scientific evidence that reducing sodium (…) has the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and diseases in the years to come, and helps reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke,” the statement said.
The FDA stressed that because disadvantaged communities, including racial and ethnic minority groups, have higher rates of hypertension than the general average, “reducing sodium in foods may also help promote health equity among these populations.”
