Levels of salt in diets is a lot higher than it should be
Salt levels in our diets seem to be getting higher and higher, without much indication of slowing down.
Figures show that more than half the public rarely or never consider the amount of salt when buying food – despite more than four in five people knowing salt is bad for their health.
The new Salt Strategy outlines how the Department of Health will help people reduce their daily intake from an average 8.1g a day towards the 6g goal.
Eating too much salt can cause high blood pressure which could lead to heart disease and stroke.
Public health minister, Anna Soubry, says: “Today, our typical shopping basket contains much less salt than it did 10 years ago but more needs to be done to help lower these levels even further.
“Through the Responsibility Deal, we are working with the food industry to make sure people are given healthier options with less salt in their favourite foods. The voluntary approach is working and we have already seen results in our everyday foods, but to get the greatest impact, we need more companies pledging to reduce salt levels, particularly in the catering and take away sector.”
Currently 90 companies have signed up to the pledge, but the strategy aims to get even more to join.
Responsibility Deal Food Network chair Dr Susan Jebb said: “It’s essential we maintain momentum in our efforts to reduce salt in our diet if we are to prevent the many thousands of premature deaths each year from stroke and heart disease linked to eating too much salt.
“This is the start of the next phase of the salt reduction work. The strategy combines work to develop new targets for reformulation, with action to urge more companies to play their full part and renewed efforts to encourage consumers to do more to reduce the salt we’re eating.”