Panel suggests FDA to regulate Salt
An influential federal panel has suggested that the US Food and Drug Administration should provide guidelines on the quantity of salt that can be added to foods to prevent Americans from consuming excess sodium.
The Institute of Medicine has said that since most Americans’ daily intake of sodium is from processed and restaurant food it is not possible to regulate it only by communication and that is where the regulation of the food industry is required.
FDA is already looking to implement processes to get this regularized. Excess of salt leads to high blood pressure, strokes and other heart diseases and also kidney failure.
This change should, however, bee implemented slowly and gradually as otherwise the companies run the risk of losing customers due to the sudden change of flavour.
1500 mg of salt is the daily intake requirement for normal body functions but the average American consumption is reportedly twice this amount which is more than 3400 mgs a day which is equivalent to 1.5 teaspoons of salt.
The institute is considered to be the authority on various subjects and advises the US government and policy makers.
FDA sources without being named have informed The Post that they are already working to put legal limits on the amount of salt that can be put in the food products.
