FDA Seeks to Have Food Companies Reduce Salt in Products

Due to the prevalence of heart disease and stroke in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to issue guidelines for food companies and restaurants to reduce sodium in their products and meals in the near future.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg told the Associated Press that the sodium issue is of serious concern and hopes that guidelines will be issued relatively soon. This is a long-awaited federal regulation, but the food industry already made some sodium reductions in preparation of the guidelines since 2010.

This is perhaps another public health issue that is infringing on the rights of everyday people, but obviously on a small scale. Similar to Mayor Bloomberg's soft drink size limit issued back in 2012 (which is still under review because many believe it to be unconstitutional), these guidelines are forcing the food industry to put a limitation on ingredients because people decide to not be cognizant of what they're consuming. It's a known fact that excessive sodium intake is unhealthy for a variety of reasons.

The daily recommendation for an individual's sodium intake is 1,500 milligrams, or just under ¾ of a teaspoon. According to the American Heart Association, most people consume about 3,400 milligrams per day, or about 1½ teaspoons. If this intake remains constant in one's diet, it can result in a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and other pertinent health issues.

"We believe we can make a big impact working with the industry to bring sodium levels down, because the current level of consumption really is higher than it should be for health," said Ms. Hamburg, in this Fox News article. "I think one of the things we are very mindful of is that we need to have a realistic timeline."

Unfortunately such personal health issues - sugar and sodium intake - have become more of a concern because health insurance costs are unreasonably high in the United States. The Commonwealth Fund released a report yesterday that found the U.S. health care system is the most expensive ($8,508 per capita) in the world and least effective. As a result, it has become a burden on politicians to try and improve the country's health in order to drive health care costs down.

Previously mentioned, high sodium intake is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, which cost the United States $444 billion in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FDA is likely to resurface this issue as soon as they determine a timetable.