The agency wants to lower how much salt we consume over the next three years to an average of 2,750 milligrams per day. That’s still above the recommended limit of 2,300 mg.
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday laid out fresh goals to cut sodium levels in packaged and processed foods by about 20%, after its prior efforts to address a growing epidemic of diet-related chronic diseases showed early signs of success.
The FDA in October 2021 had set guidelines to trim sodium levels in foods ranging from potato chips to hamburgers in a bid to prevent excessive intake of salt that can trigger high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
The agency is now seeking voluntary curbs from packaged-food makers such as PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and Campbell Soup. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Homing in on a single number at a time is like plugging one leak and having another spring up. The laser focus on reducing fat, for example, led to foods using more salt and sugar to compensate and that created other problems. We need a more holistic approach to diet.
The 1980s was a time of great over reporting of unfinished science. From there through the 1990s was a nonstop mood swing over what was good or bad for you.
I think you’re right, thematically. But we also know a heck of a lot more about all this than we did back then. Much more settled science compared to anecdote or conjecture.
Probably for the best. Sugar too. I’m skinny AF, but absolutely the target audience for junk food as it’s the only thing I really eat. I know it’s not good, I think we all know, and it’s time to change.
Are people still buying this disgusting trash? Wow.
My new year resolution was to cook every single meal. Mo more delivery, junk food, processed shit and so on. I’m not here pretending I followed perfectly but it helped me so so much.
You are what you eat and I’m sorry to say but that US food is garbage to the point that some “food” is not food anymore.
Go to your local market, buy fresh organic food and cook. It will help your body, your wallet, the environment and everybody else.
Organic is the biggest scam after homeopathic drugs by the way. Not to mention it all looks absolutely terrible compared to the superior produce that aren’t practically rotted by the time they hit the store.
I switched to a whole food plant based diet 7 or 8 years ago and have avoided most junk food since then. Now if I eat regular potato chips it tastes like drinking from a salt shaker.
We’ve been flavor blasted, we can’t taste anything unless it’s buried in salt. Meanwhile people are taking blood pressure drugs instead of eating a vegetable. I don’t think it’s bad that these products exist but it would do humanity some good to tone it down a bit. It’s a war to see who can make the best tasting food but there are serious health implications on a large scale as a result. Better options and labelling would go a long way I think.
Sigh, ok.
Tell the intern to order three more semis of corn syrup.
