Food industry urged to pinch sodium from products

The food industry is being advised to reduce the amount of sodium in its products. A federal task force wants Canadians to cut their salt consumption by a third. The group says the voluntary measure could save thousands of lives.

CTV News Channel: Theresa Albert, nutritionist

The author of 'Cook Once a Week, Eat Well Every Day' explains what foods are getting Canadians to eat larger quantities of salt as well as the health risks of consuming too much sodium.

CTV News Channel: Sally Brown, CEO

The CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation says the report is alarming and Canadians should be eating 1500 milligrams of sodium a day, while also saying the majority of salt can be found in processed foods.

CTV News Channel: Mary L'Abbe, vice chair

The vice chair of the Sodium Working Group says Canadians exceed the upper levels of salt people should be consuming and need to cut back, as it is a major risk ractor for hypertension, which can also lead to other diseases.

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Canadians consume more than twice the recommended amount of salt each day.

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If restaurants did this, I could actually safely eat out MORE and bring more sales to them. Something to think about. Cutting fat would help too.

Rick in Olds

Food industry urged to pinch sodium from products

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Food industry urged to pinch sodium from products

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Jul. 29 2010 9:33 PM ET

Canadians need to break their addiction to salt, and food manufacturers need to help, concludes a new report from a federally-appointed task force on sodium.

The Sodium Working Group released six general and 27 specific recommendations in its report Thursday that call for manufacturers to voluntarily lower the sodium content of their products over time.

The aim is to lower Canadians' average daily sodium intake by about a third, to 2,300 milligrams, by 2016. That's the figure considered the upper daily limit of sodium for most adults; 1,500 milligrams is considered the recommended intake.

But most Canadians go well over both figures, averaging about 3,400 mg every day. And almost 80 per cent of that coming from processed food and restaurant food.

In order to cut Canadians' sodium intake by a third, the "Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada" suggests:

amending Canada's food-labelling system to make sodium levels more clear to consumers
reduce the Nutrition Facts table's "daily value" for sodium from 2,400 mg to 1,500 mg
prominent placement of sodium information at chain restaurants (which tend to serve standardized fare)
consumer education campaigns that warn of the dangers of high sodium
setting up an online mechanism for companies to commit to the sodium-reduction strategy
establish a system to track how much sodium restaurants and food companies voluntarily cut sodium from their products

"The ultimate goal is to lower sodium intake for as many individuals as possible below the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 2,300 mg per day," explained Dr. Norm Campbell, a member of the Sodium Working Group's Steering Committee and the director of Hypertension Canada.

Research suggests that reducing dietary sodium to recommended levels could prevent about 11,000 to 15,000 premature deaths from heart disease and strokes each year.

Cutting hospitalizations caused by excess sodium would also save the health system $1.5 billion each year, Dr. Mary L'Abbe, director of Health Canada's Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, said.

"Salt is actually one of the major risk factors for hypertension, which in turn leads to elevated risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and a number of other diseases," L'Abbe told CTV News Channel.

"Some studies have said that if we can get our sodium down, we can just as much impact on our health as, for example, reducing tobacco use by 50 per cent, treating a lot of people with drugs for hypertension. So it's a really effective strategy – and cost effective, for that matter – for getting at these health problems."

Food and Consumer Products of Canada, which represents food makers in Canada, suggested that while it was committed to lowering sodium, changes wouldn't happen overnight.

"...It's important for Canadians to know that lowering sodium to the interim target level set by the Working Group is uncharted territory for the industry, so it is going to take time," Phyllis Tanaka, vice-president, scientific and regulatory affairs with food policy at FCPC said in a statement.

The Sodium Working Group's 25 members acknowledged that reducing sodium is complex. That's because salt and other sodium-based ingredients are used not just to add flavour to foods, but as a preservative, an antibacterial agent, and for the texture and structure of foods.

Still, the group notes that Canadians take in more than double the sodium we need, leading to elevated blood pressure -- the leading preventable risk factor for death worldwide.

Though the report -- two years in the making -- was long anticipated, it's unclear whether health stakeholders will be pleased with the working group's recommendations. Many had been calling for stiff government regulations to ensure that sodium targets would be met.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said she welcomed the blueprint, but stopped short of committing to implementing the 27 recommendations.

"Over the coming months, Health Canada will be working with its federal, provincial and territorial partners to assess the recommendations made by the working group and determine how they can best be addressed," she said in a statement.

Comments are now closed for this story

Tammylee
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Although this sounds like good practice for everyone, it is not the case.....I am Bipolar and on Lithium....I was told by my doctors that I am NOT to cut back on sodium, in fact, after a particularly scary trip to the ER for heat stroke and severe dehydration one summer that I am to Increase salt & fluids in the summer heat. So while all you are cutting back on the white stuff here & there, I'll be heading to McDonalds for extra salty fries!

Trish
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Of course the health nuts are going after salt. They've managed to get cigarettes and tobacco taken off the shelves, now this. And what comes after that? It never ends. I say the powers that be should stay the heck out of our lives.

Beverley Wylie
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We need to go back to cooking our own food instead of depending on the fast and easy way,we all were a lot healthier then i do most of our cooking and only eat out on few occasions.But I still would like to see more ways to cut back

Winnie
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Good job federally appointed task force. We(Canadians) and probably most people like to eat and don't pay attention too much of what is in foods so this message to check it at souce is a wonderful idea. Peoples health will improve and health care cost may go down some over the years. Bravo Conservatives, you do it again.I know I feel a lot better when cutting down salt etc.Thank You

TG-Manitoba
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I agree with Portes (who was the 3rd to comment). Home Cooking can be a great aspect towards reducing sodium intake. Eating out at fast food restuarants should be few and far apart not almost everyday of the week. Things like potato chips and chocolate bars should also be a treat, not a nightly ritual. Also by eating at home more often there is more opportunity to save money and spend it on better things.

H.T.
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I don't add salt to my food. It isn't necessary. It only seem like the food has little taste when you stop the salt because you're so used to the salt. Stop the salt and get used to the natural taste of the food. Canned food, package food and more don't need much salt in it at all. There is no reason to add so much. It has been known for so many years there is too much salt in the food. Stop it! If those eating it want it salty/tasty they can add the salt when the food is on their plate.

Havelock Heavy
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Another government study to tell us what we already know. Enough of the foot dragging, the gov't needs to set clear guidelines and an assertive schedule for reducing salt in foods and get on with it. the food industry will find any excuse to foot drag and delay otherwise. Come on Mr. Harper here is an opportunity to do something that will really help Canadians. We don't need more prisons and we don't need more guns on the street. We DO NEED healthier food.

mike
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why worry about salt when there are toxic drugs being added every day to make it last longer on the shelf to make it look brighter heck now we are useing radiation to clean the food our parents used to eat salt pork salt fish and others sodium is not the problem it is all the toxins we are useing but sodium is a good distraction .

Earthwatcher
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two things can be done to make this happen. Like I had to, reduce your sodium intake by making healthy life style choices. eliminated all processed and virtually all packaged foods. Those that one still purchases, closely scrutinize the package information and do bit of simple math.Cook more often, take the time to find recipes and dishes that are just at tasty and no more complicated to make than before. Educate yourself to know what the baseline sodium levels in popular restaurant fare is and pretty much kiss fast food goodby.Stop grazing, start cooking and take command of what you put in your mouth. The government can play its part by legislating lower sodium contents in packaged, processed and deli counter foods (those are evil). Mostly consumers need to take charge of their own health and eating habits.

Tono Fonseca
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Banning U.S.-based fast-food restaurants in Canada would be a good start. Like Tim Hortons, these fast-food joints are an embarrassment to our country's cuisine.

nancyann123
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stop trying to make people dye healthy...when I go , I wanna be sick... but before I do I wanna have a great life and experience all the good stuff.. and salt is one of the good stuff!!

Dixie from Alberta
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There are lots of canned veggies (even tomatos) that come salt free. They may cost a bit more, but they are out there. I've cut out most of the salt from my diet years ago. After awhile I didn't miss the salt and now can taste even a little bit in food. I use very little processed foods & the ones I do buy must have the lowest sodium content. Don't get your kids hooked on salt laden foods when they are young and they will learn to love foods not heavily salted.

Dave, Ottawa
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I would REALLY love to see a study which proves a "high-sodium" diet CAUSES hypertension. Please... show me the data. What you will find is those individuals who HAVE hypertension may benefit from a reduced sodium diet. There is a big difference there. Certain people are more sensitive to sodium than the general population. Bottom line is, if you don't have hypertension, then you don't need to worry much about your salt intake.

CraigW
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My understanding is that there has never been any conclusinve proof that sale is bad for you. I am waiting for the next expert to come out and tell us that all of are ills are due to a lack of salt in our diet.

danya
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This should have been done a long time ago.I don't buy any processed food and i don't eat out beacause i know all the restuarants out there are greasy and salty.cooking at home is the healtiest way to go bacause you know what ingredients you are putting in your food.
People should stop eating junk food and start making their own food,there would be alot less health problems.

rodney
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for the love of i will not have anyone TELL me how much salt to eat or TELL me how much sugar to eat , or anyone change my diet FOR ME , i am almost 40 and im sry but i will eat WHAT i want WHEN i want and i dont need do gooder health speciall interests telling me OTHERWISE

Lily from Mtl
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Many people say that the solution is to cook from themselves. I agree this is a good step. Before being snooty about it, have you checked the sodium content on those tomato cans? That Italian Pastele bread crum jar? ANYTHING that comes out of a can that you use for home cooking? Some stuff we just can't make ourselves or we do not have access to "fresh" all year round.The truth is that the recommendations have some sense to it. Educational campaigns will help but some incentive on food processing companies is necessary or we wont realistically stick to a low salt diet.

Dean in Abby
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I like Mandosa's comment. How about we all stop being so lazy and cook your own food. Think of your health and your wallet. The other point being, stop blaming others for giving you want you obviously want. No one says you have to buy and eat the stuff.

Bobi Campbell
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I would like to see salt removed from the products on the self. We sould be able to choose to add salt or not.

Pam
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Cooking from scratch is the best way to cut sodium. Remember that each cake, cookie and similar goods always recommend approx. 1/4 teaspoon. You don't need it. You only need as much salt as you can take in a pinch, which if you look at a pinch of salt you could count the grains. Professional cook of the late 1800's advice. That is all the receipe requires. Salt can be eliminated from the diet without any fire effects. Complete removal of salt in her sons diet allowed him to live another 35 years plus the 17 the navy meds gave him to live in wwii. Really healthy when he died at 84 of natural aging.

Red
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This must be a joke. A panel of experts is suggesting that it is an addiction problem, and that manufacturers VOLUNTARILY (joking right) lower the sodium content in their products. It's not an addiction when you have no choice. All foods that are sold in the grocery stores all have way too much sodium in them. I do not believe that Canadians are requesting that manufactures add more sodium in their products, because they are addicted. This is really about the government regulating the sodium levels to healthy levels, like they do in other countries. Why can I go to the USA, and buy the exact same brand of cereal, and it has 30% less salt in it? Is it because Americans requested less salt in their diets? I don't think so.

Intelligent Liberal
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Most people don't know that salt contains a lot of sodium. The chemical name for salt is NACL, and the NA part is sodium. A very simple solution is to use sodium depleted salt, take the NA out of NACL and your fries wil taste just as good with the CL, especially if you use ketchup. It's a good way to improve your diet and solve the problem that these health people are complaining about.

Alyx Crawford
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It becomes difficult to break the obsession with salt when so many of the food shows remind viewers to "season" their food -- by adding salt! Contestants on cook-off style reality shows are berated for not adding enough salt to their dishes. We need to change the entire culture of salted foods. I cook with little or not salt, and find that food still has plenty of flavour.

Eve from Edmonton
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Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Pizza Hut should get warnings as their foods are way too salty.

Larry Calgary
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Everytime you buy something at the grocery store, you are voting to keep selling that item.

Stop buying salt filled items and the grocery stores and producers will follow suit and change their items as well.

stephen
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"But most Canadians go well over that, averaging about 3,400 mg every day". There are British studies that indicate it is really more like three times that amount, or six times the healthy amount of 1500mg/day. with the system we have now, the only way to meet the 1500mg target is to eat food made utterly from scratch.

James MacGregor
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I have to say that Campbell's soup has been making an effort to reduce their salt levels in soups. Their Healthy Request and "Light" Ready to Enjoy soups are 480 mg per cup. However, I feel this level should be the maximum sodium level in soups, with lower sodium options in the 250-300 mg range.
One thing we need to get rid of is MSG and don't replace it with Yeast Extract or any other things that are actually MSG in disguise.

P Mercier in eastern Ontario
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Food packaging should clearly indicate the amount of sodium or sugar.How about having a can of soup clearly show something like "This package contains the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of salt" or a soft drink show something like "This package contains the equivalent of 13 teaspoons of sugar"? Of course, quantities would vary with the size of the package.

Dave
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Salt is just nasty, i don't see how anyone can eat that stuff, pull it from use period

healthyoptions
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Really!

Why don't they get rid of processed sugars they put in foods as well - this is bringing about early onslaught of diabetes.

Bob from S. John's
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Cutting processed foods is the key here. Eat fresh foods and cook for yourself.

Carl ns
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Macdonald's puts way to much salt of their fries..

Portes
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It seems that no one knows the word HOME COOKING. My wife and I do all the cooking and do not buy anything in cans, boxes or fast food stuff. I have heard the old saying "i am too busy to cook". There are a lot of ways to cook that do not take a lot of time,but I guess today's generations don't have the time or are too lazy. If they cooked their own food then they would not have to worry about salt. I don't add any to my cooking as the ingredients have their own salt

Rick in Olds
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If restaurants did this, I could actually safely eat out MORE and bring more sales to them. Something to think about. Cutting fat would help too.

mandosa
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"Almost 80 per cent of the sodium in Canadians' diets coming from processed food." Here's a thought. How about people lay of their daily grazing at the processed food feedlot for a change. But I guess that would be too much work when we have almighty government on our side to protect us from ourselves.