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Ear to the Ground

Salt Kills, FDA Stalls

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Posted on Apr 20, 2010
Flickr / TheGiantVermin (CC-BY-SA)

It’s bad enough that Americans eat about twice as much salt as they need—and much more than is healthful—but most don’t even realize it. Reducing sodium in processed foods like cereal and soup and in restaurant meals could save more than 100,000 lives a year, and medical groups are urging the government to take action.

The Institute of Medicine released a report Tuesday showing that voluntary efforts to reduce sodium in the American diet have utterly failed. The organization, which is an independent nonprofit associated with the National Academy of Sciences, wants regulators to set mandatory limits on how much salt can be added to food products.

Sodium is a stealth risk. As the IOM explains:

Challenges arise because salt—the primary source of sodium in the diet—and other sodium-containing compounds often are used to enhance the flavor of foods, and high amounts are found in processed foods and foods prepared in restaurants. Sodium also is added to enhance texture or to serve as a preservative or thickener. In fact, very little of the sodium in foods is naturally occurring; most of it is added as it is being processed or prepared by the food industry. The actual sodium levels in food may surprise consumers, especially if the food does not taste salty.

Excessive salt is linked to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

So far, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t seem all that moved by the IOM report’s findings. While the agency’s website says “[t]hese recommendations are being carefully reviewed and evaluated by FDA,” Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told The Associated Press, “We believe we can achieve some substantial voluntary reductions.” She appears to have missed the point.  —PZS

Sources: IOM, FDA, AP

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By raymond barrajas, February 7 at 7:49 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

its just another scheme to kill off the population.
SOLAR NOON
COLD DRY AIR
SALT
RADIATION
ASPIRIN
DRUGS
RELIGIOUS WAR
ETC. ICOULD GO ON AND ON
GOOD JOB ASSHOLES
THANKS FOR KILLING OFF MUCH OF MY FAMILY WITH SICKNESS.

Report this

By samosamo, May 9, 2010 at 8:46 pm Link to this comment

***************

ar sabir

You’re correct but the best information about any physiological
function of the body is to read and study the affects insulin has
as it is the most powerful hormone in the body that controls the
actions of so many other lesser, so to speak, hormones that
regulate or over activate certain functions inside of us all.

A good book would be Gary Taubes ‘Good Calories - Bad
Calories’.

Report this

By AR Sabir, May 8, 2010 at 11:20 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Lowering sodium intake has to be done on an individual basis,through information. I don’t think the government should get involved other than by public service announcements and pamphlets.

Report this

By samosamo, April 21, 2010 at 11:41 am Link to this comment

What a piece of disinformation and I would fully expect the BEER
industry to strike back real hard on this as SALT it the numero
uno way to increase beer consumption, a man’s favorite carb, by
eating more popcorn, peanuts and pretzels, most, again, are a
man’s favorite carb when trying to swill down enough beer to
gain the courage to ask that red headed club footed toothless
250 pound bitch at the end of the bar for a blow job.

Report this

By grumpynyker, April 21, 2010 at 6:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

As usual, blame is heaped on the consumer instead of
the “food” manufacturers.  Tell the food manufacturers
to limit their salt, high fructose corn syrup, etc.
content in their Soylent Green products.  I’ll do my
part to read the labels and purchase accordingly. 
Kopasetic?

Report this

By Igor Marxomarxovich, April 20, 2010 at 7:12 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I think this is still a free country…..or has this
changed already

Report this
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