Say No to Salt
As a result of a request made in 2005 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a hearing on November 29, 2007 to debate levels of salt in processed food.
As far as consumer groups go, CSPI has the American Medical Association on their side. The American Medical Association concluded that 150,000 lives would be saved each year if the salt in processed foods and restaurant meals was reduced by half.
Salt tastes good but isn’t very good for you is a campaign slogan. The simple fact is that there is enough sodium in your natural diet to meet the daily nutritional requirements set by the American Medical Association. Milton Stokes, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association recently said, “Americans consume too much salt.”
The National Academy of Sciences recommends that adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily or approximately a teaspoon of salt. For people over 50, African Americans and people at a higher risk for heart disease such as the obese and diabetic population, the target is about 1,500 milligrams. The problem is that Americans eat at least more than 40% of the recommended daily allowance set by the American Dietetic Association. There are 150 milligrams in a serving of Cheerios and almost a day’s worth in many frozen meals. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets in the United States has more than twice as much salt as the same product in the United Kingdom, and Kellogg’s Special K in the United States has 58 percent more salt in than it does in the United Kingdom.
Food advocacy groups are concerned over any proposed labels. Many industry insiders have said privately that a reduction in salt may scare consumers away from the product. Many well know products such as Campbells Soup are rich in sodium.
Today, the FDA will begin collecting expert testimony from experts for and against the regulation of salt. There is one expert that will not be present at the meeting but may ultimately be the deciding factor in this debate – The Bush Administration. The Administration is planning a national campaign against obesity that will be focused on children. Most experts agree that salty foods add to the problem.
Yes, washing down your French fries with soda pop is not recommended by most dietary guidelines.
