The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that people should reduce the salt intake to avoid high blood pressure and heart attacks. Daily intake of salt should be limited to 6 g per day. FSA also stressed that the tinned foods should clearly mention the amount of salt content in their food labels.
Too much of salt is very harmful to humans as it increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks. The amount of salt content is more than 75% in processed foods or ready to eat foods compared to home made foods. FSA and other organizations also accuse the media of unnecessary advertising junk food in the Television channel, which attracts more children’s to eating Junk food.Research results:
Research results have shown that reducing the amount of salt in the diet lowers the level of blood pressure within four weeks. On an average Men consumes 11 g of salt and women consumes 8 g.
Experts View:
FSA chair Deirdre Hutton said, "It's a great first step that so many people now know that too much salt is bad for them and are cutting down on the amount they add to food, But if we all check food labels and choose the products containing the least salt, it will help us ensure that we all eat no more than 6g a day."
Martin Paterson, Deputy Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “Food manufacturers are committed to further reformulation of products and support the FSA aim of raising consumer awareness and we are doing our bit by reducing salt in a huge range of products and providing better, simpler information through improved labeling." But Peter Sherratt, of the Salt Manufacturers' Association, said it was still to be proved that cutting salt produced "any long-term health benefits", adding exercise and eating healthily was of more importance.
