Sodium intake debated
Jason Millman
Issue date: 11/16/05 Section: News
Calling for a sharp reduction of salt levels in both restaurant and processed food, the Center for Science in the Public Interest issued a legal petition last week to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, citing a report that excessive sodium consumption kills 150,000 people each year.
Serious medical issues, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive failure and kidney disease, issues could be avoided with a reduction of salt in the diet, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. The report was filed jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The CSPI, calling salt the "silent killer," has criticized the FDA for overlooking the serious dangers associated with excessive sodium consumption. Despite urging from the CSPI, the FDA in the past has not placed restrictions on the salt content of food.
In a press release issued last week, CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson said the FDA needs to readdress its priorities.
"Frankly, the FDA is more interested in racing expensive new drug therapies for high blood pressure to market than it is improving Americans' diets so they wouldn't need the drugs," Jacobson said.
The CSPI's petition calls for the FDA to reduce the daily value of sodium per person from 2,300 mg to 1,500 mg. On average, Americans consume about 4,000 mg of sodium per day, according to the CSPI.
The petition requested that the FDA remove salt from its list of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) products. It also requested that the FDA set ceilings for salt levels for specific categories of food.
For example, the petition said the FDA should regulate salt levels in pre-cooked McDonald's french fries.
The FDA declined to comment about the petition.
The CSPI's petition cited public efforts that McDonald's and several other food establishments made in the 1980s to lower sodium levels.
A McDonald's spokeswoman declined to comment on the petition, but she said the restaurant has been developing a healthier menu and tries to promote foods that have high nutritional value.
Serious medical issues, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive failure and kidney disease, issues could be avoided with a reduction of salt in the diet, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. The report was filed jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The CSPI, calling salt the "silent killer," has criticized the FDA for overlooking the serious dangers associated with excessive sodium consumption. Despite urging from the CSPI, the FDA in the past has not placed restrictions on the salt content of food.
In a press release issued last week, CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson said the FDA needs to readdress its priorities.
"Frankly, the FDA is more interested in racing expensive new drug therapies for high blood pressure to market than it is improving Americans' diets so they wouldn't need the drugs," Jacobson said.
The CSPI's petition calls for the FDA to reduce the daily value of sodium per person from 2,300 mg to 1,500 mg. On average, Americans consume about 4,000 mg of sodium per day, according to the CSPI.
The petition requested that the FDA remove salt from its list of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) products. It also requested that the FDA set ceilings for salt levels for specific categories of food.
For example, the petition said the FDA should regulate salt levels in pre-cooked McDonald's french fries.
The FDA declined to comment about the petition.
The CSPI's petition cited public efforts that McDonald's and several other food establishments made in the 1980s to lower sodium levels.
A McDonald's spokeswoman declined to comment on the petition, but she said the restaurant has been developing a healthier menu and tries to promote foods that have high nutritional value.
