Source: MEATINGPLACE, 6/1/16

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released voluntary sodium reduction targets for the food industry aimed at helping Americans lower sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day.

The draft guidance proposes average and maximum sodium levels for 150 categories of processed and restaurant foods. Interim targets are set to be met in two years and long-term targets in 10 years.

FDA said it is especially encouraging adoption by food manufacturers whose products make up a significant portion of national sales in one or more categories and restaurant chains that are national and regional in scope.

This guidance is meant to build on existing efforts already under way by many manufacturers to reduce sodium, the agency said.

The average American consumes more than 3,400 mg of sodium per day, well above the 2,300 mg limit recommended by federal dietary guidelines, or the 1,500 mg limit recommended for people with hypertension or pre-hypertension.

“The totality of the scientific evidence supports sodium reduction from current intake levels,” said Susan Mayne, director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Experts at the Institute of Medicine have concluded that reducing sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day can significantly help Americans reduce their blood pressure and ultimately prevent hundreds of thousands of premature illnesses and deaths. Because the majority of sodium in our diets comes from processed and prepared foods, consumers are challenged in lowering their sodium intake themselves.”

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