AMA Urges Immediate FDA Action to Reduce Excess Salt in Food
AMA testifies at FDA hearing on revising the regulatory status of salt in foodand establishing food labeling requirementsCOLLEGE PARK, Md., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to reducethe burden of heart disease and stroke, the American Medical Association (AMA)today testified to the Food and Drug Administration urging immediate action toreduce excess salt in food. The AMA asked the FDA to set strict limits on saltin processed foods and work to better educate the public on the benefits of alow-sodium diet.AMA Vice President for Science, Quality, and Public Health Stephen Havas, MD,MPH, MS, said, "The need for immediate action is clear. The deaths attributedto excess salt consumption represent a huge toll - the equivalent of a jumbojet with more than 400 passengers crashing every day of the year, year afteryear.""Excess sodium greatly increases the chance of developing hypertension, heartdisease, and stroke," said Dr. Havas. "Research shows most Americans consumetwo to three times the amount of sodium that is healthy, with an estimated 75to 80 percent of the daily intake of sodium coming from processed andrestaurant foods. Reducing the salt in our diets by 50 percent over the nextten years could save at least 150,000 lives each year.""Americans don't consume large amounts of salt because they request it, butoften do so unknowingly because manufacturers and restaurants put it in food,"said Dr. Havas. "The FDA has an opportunity to inform the public of thehazards of salt through better labeling and provide increased incentives forthe industry to reduce the amount of salt added to food." "The U.S. should follow the lead of countries such as Finland and the U.K. whohave taken action on salt, and seen promising results," said Dr. Havas.Because of the enormous health consequences attributed to excess saltconsumption in the U.S., the AMA recommends the following:
-- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoke the "generally recognized as-- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoke the "generally recognized assafe" (GRAS) status of salt and develop regulatory measures to limit sodium inprocessed and restaurant foods.
-- The FDA and manufacturers work toward a minimum of a 50 percent reduction-- The FDA and manufacturers work toward a minimum of a 50 percent reductionin the amount of sodium in processed foods, fast food products and restaurantmeals over the next decade.
-- Interested stakeholders establish partnerships to educate consumers about-- Interested stakeholders establish partnerships to educate consumers aboutthe benefits of long-term, moderate reductions in sodium intake.
-- The FDA improve labeling to assist consumers in understanding the amount of-- The FDA improve labeling to assist consumers in understanding the amount ofsodium contained in processed food products and develop label markings andwarnings for foods high in sodium. "The AMA is confident the implementation of these recommendations would reducesodium intake, result in a better educated consumer, and eventually lower theincidence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in this country, savingcountless lives," said Dr. Havas.SOURCE American Medical AssociationMollie Turner, +1-202-789-7430 or Lisa Lecas, +1-312-464-5980, both of AMAMedia Relations
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