According to researchers, thousands of us are dying of heart attacks, strokes and stomach cancer after a campaign to reduce salt in supermarket food stalled. A relaxation in regulation since 2011 is said to be responsible for nearly 10,000 extra heart disease ad stroke cases over six years. And experts say the figure will reach 26,000 by 2025, along with 3,800 additional deaths from stomach cancer. This is distressing news.
UK adults are advised to eat no more than 6g of salt daily, but most consume an average of 8g. According to food experts, three-quarters of salt in our diets is in processed food, such as bread, ready meals and soups.
The Food Standards Agency requested all food manufacturers to reduce salt content by up to 20 per cent, and monitored them between 2003 and 2010. It led to a salt intake fall of 0.2g per day in men, and 0.12g in women. But the Public Health Responsibility Deal allowed the industry to set targets as part of voluntary pledges. Afterwards the decline in salt intake slowed up. This new system was criticised for lacking "robust and independent target setting, monitoring, and enforcement."
Doctor Anthony Laverty, who led the study by Imperial College London, added "evidence from around the world is now showing mandatory approaches are much more effective than self-regulation in reducing the amount of salt and sugar in the diet." They took their figures from the data gathered by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey.
HMHB says:
We are constantly warned about the risks of consuming processed food on a regular basis. Salt content can be high - just check the labels. Takeaways can also be high in content. It is just about being sensible with your diet. Cook more for a start. You are then in control of the recipe. Don't stop having processed if you like it, but cut down. It can save your life!!
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