FDA's sodium reduction guidance: not enough
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued guidance for voluntary sodium reduction with a goal of approximately a 10% reduction over the next 2.5 years. However, as they clearly state in the guidance, Americans need a 32% reduction in salt intake to reach their recommended maximum limit of 2,300mg per day (and note, that's a limit — less than that is still better). In fact, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 1,500mg per day which would be a 55% reduction from today's consumption rates.
While 10% is better than nothing, there is no morally justifiable reason the guidance should recommend that small of a reduction with zero enforcement. What explains the lack of ambition? It should be obvious to people by now, but whether you like it or not governments largely serve the interests of businesses (which is to say, wealthy citizens), not common citizens. The FDA has in fact several times in their history considered making regulations on sodium levels in food, but declined due to political pressures. In other words, because businesses care more about money than the lives of people they affect, millions of people (1.65 million worldwide in 2010 according to one widely cited study) are continuing to die each year from excessive sodium consumption.
Is this the way we want to continue to be? Profits first, human life second?
