|
 An
estimated 11 million deaths globally are associated with poor diet
each year, including 3 million attributable to high sodium intake,
it said in a report.
In many wealthy countries, and increasingly in lower income nations,
a significant proportion of sodium in the diet comes from
manufactured foods such as bread, cereal, processed meats and dairy
products including cheese, the WHO said.
Sodium chloride is the chemical name for salt and sodium is a
mineral that regulates the amount of water in the body.
Authorities must establish policies to reduce salt intake and
provide people with information to make the right food choices, WHO
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
"We also need the food and beverage industry to cut sodium levels in
processed food," Tedros said in a statement.
The new WHO benchmarks, for 64 food and drink categories, are aimed
at guiding health authorities in its 194 member states in talks with
the food and beverage industry.
[to top of second column] |
For example, potato crisps should contain a maximum of 500 mgs of
sodium per 100g serving, pies and pastries up to 120 mgs and
processed meats up to 360mgs, according to its benchmarks.
"Excess dietary sodium intake increases blood pressure and
consequently increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases," the WHO
said.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths from
non-communicable diseases worldwide, responsible for 32% of all
deaths, the WHO said. High sodium intake is associated with obesity,
chronic kidney disease and gastric cancer, it said.
WHO recommends that people consume less than 5g of salt (or less
than 2g of sodium) per day, it said.
Its global target, set in 2013, is for a 30% reduction in the
population average intake of salt by 2025, it said, adding:
"The world is not currently on track to meet this goal."
(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content |
