Global targets for sodium reduction ‘way off’

Huge efforts are needed for global communities to meet the target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025, according to the World Health Organization.

In the first global report of its kind, WHO says only 3% of the world’s population is protected by mandatory sodium reduction policies and 73% of WHO member states lack full range of implementation of such policies.

However, putting in place cost-effective sodium reduction policies could save an estimated seven million lives globally by 2030.

Only nine countries – Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay – have a comprehensive package of recommended policies to reduce sodium intake.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said: “Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits.

“This report shows that most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. WHO calls on all countries to implement the ‘Best Buys’ for sodium reduction, and on manufacturers to implement the WHO benchmarks for sodium content in food.”

WHO’s four “best buy” interventions comprise: reformulating foods to contain less salt and setting targets for the amount of sodium in foods and meals; establishing public food procurement policies to limit salt or sodium rich foods in public institutions; front-of-package labelling to help consumers select products lower in sodium; and mass media campaigns.

Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a not-for-profit organisation, said: “This important report demonstrates that countries must work urgently to implement ambitious, mandatory, government-led sodium reduction policies to meet the global target of reducing salt consumption by 2025.

“There are proven measures that governments can implement and important innovations, such as low sodium salts. The world needs action, and now, or many more people will experience disabling or deadly, but preventable, heart attacks and strokes.”

The global average salt intake is estimated to be 10.8 grams per day, more than double the WHO recommendation of less than 5 grams of salt per day.

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