FDA mulls stricter regulation of salt in food

Reuters ^ | November 30, 2007 | Kim Dixon

[Zakeet]

OLLEGE PARK, Md., Nov 29 (Reuters) - Public health advocates on Thursday called for tighter restrictions on salt content in food, arguing that cutting the nutrient's overuse by most Americans could save thousands of lives annually.

Excessive salt in Americans' diets is a major factor in high blood pressure and increases risk for heart disease, while most Americans exceed recommended limits, according to health experts. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) cited these factors in urging stricter regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at a public hearing, held on Thursday at the FDA.

Trimming the salt content in processed and restaurant foods by half could save up to 150,000 lives a year by reducing heart-related disease, according to the consumer group, whose petition to the FDA prompted the public hearing.

"I am sure no one would tolerate so many deaths from airline crashes, so why tolerate it from food?" Dr. Stephen Havas, vice president for science and public health at the American Medical Association, said.

The CSPI, backed by several public health groups, wants the FDA to beef up labeling, require manufacturers to cut salt in packaged foods, and revoke salt's "generally recognized as safe" status, subjecting it to stricter regulations as a food additive.

[Zakeet]

And don't any of Freepers grab the salt shaker after the Government saves you from something that is "dangerous, not safe."

[KarlInOhio]

And don't any of Freepers grab the salt shaker after the Government saves you from something that is "dangerous, not safe."

The FDA enforcement division will shoot you in the head to save you from the salt you're about ready to sprinkle.

[Man50D]

Food Police Alert: Americans are too stupid to know what and how much they should eat.

[Rudder]

As much as I hate government intervention, excessive NaCl is not good for you and most of us have no way of knowing how much we consume daily. Processed foods are loaded with sodium and even state it on the label. Quick, without looking it up, what is the MDA (allowance) for sodium?

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I agree 100%.

Also, salt is a preservative.

I’m glad I live in Panama. There are so many nuts with nothing to do running our lives in the U.S.

[Rudder]

Americans are too stupid to know what and how much they should eat.

When it comes to sodium, Americans are ill-informed, not stupid.

[Man50D]

"I am sure no one would tolerate so many deaths from airline crashes, so why tolerate it from food?" Dr. Stephen Havas, vice president for science and public health at the American Medical Association, said.

Poor analogy doctor. Passengers don't have control once they board a plane. People do have control over what they eat.

[goldstategop]

Screw em. I intend you use as much salt as I want in my food. The nannies should stop telling people what they can and can't eat. No to Food Police Nazis!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[KarlInOhio]

Oh, it's the CSPI. They are the authors of "Movie Popcorn: Kernels of Death", "Chinese Food: The Real Yellow Peril" and "KFC Fried Chicken: heart attack with a beak".

I will recycle the electrons I wasted by reading this.

[Man50D]

How is it the average life span in the U.S. has increased over the years if salt has been so deadly?

[ErnBatavia]

My father, for his last year or so, had what most would consider low blood pressure; on a visit to his cardiologist I asked the doc about reintroducing salt into his diet to counter this.

He looked at me funny, like he was having some sort of epiphany, and said, "Yes, by all means...do it!"

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I personally don’t care.

It is none of the government’s business.

If I want to eat river sand, it is my business.

If I want to drink water out of a stream where a herd of cattle are just a few yards up stream, which I have done, it is nobody’s business.

[Calpernia]

No salt for you!

[Clemenza]

You will pry that salt shaker from my cold dead hands!

[HangnJudge]

Salt is not intrinsically dangerous
The lack of salt in the diet is, without question, eventually lethal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edible_salt

It is only a problem in certain medical conditions
Those people should be appropriately advised,

Regulation otherwise, of salt content, is stupid
Micro-regulation of foodstuffs, is generally stupid
... unless it is from China ...

the task of selecting and preparing foods is
an intrinsically private matter

[NonValueAdded]

Ah, poor ignorant sheeple, unable to decide for themselves how much salt to use or how to read a label. Of course, there is the unintended consequence of making the food so bland that the sheeple will feel obliged to use the salt shaker, adding far more sodium than was in the product under current regs.

[NittanyLion]

As much as I hate government intervention, excessive NaCl is not good for you and most of us have no way of knowing how much we consume daily.

So your conclusion is that government intervention is warranted since NaCl is not good for you? What happens when the government decides alcohol, fat or carbohydrates are "not good for you" as well?

The government has no damn business telling individuals what they are allowed to eat.

[Zakeet]

Actually, if the Government wanted to lower my blood pressure, they would exile
Hillary and the Rat Congressional Leadership to Antarctica, shut down the
MSM, enforce immigration laws, dump the tax code, and sack about 90 percent
of all non-military, non-law enforcement government workers.

That should be good for at least 20 points.

[Freedom4US]

That’s always the clincher, isn’t it?

Literal poisons in imported foods, with no remedy in sight, but authorities are worried about sodium in domestic prepared foods. I’m sure this is indicative of something, but not anything good.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

When it comes to Government nanny state regulations: