FDF responds to salt intake reductions

22nd July 2008, 3:47pm

The FSA today has published new evidence, which shows the UK’s average daily salt consumption has fallen from 9.5g to 8.6g since 2000 and plans to work with the eating out market to target intake there.

Although the recent figures show an encouraging decline in salt levels, more challenging targets are needed to meet the Government's target of 6g a day.

The agency said in a statement: "With the average person eating one in every six meals out of the home each week, it is likely that reductions in salt in the catering sector will have an impact on daily salt intakes, helping to bring us closer to the 6g target."

To help reduce salt levels, the Agency has launched a public consultation on proposals that will make its voluntary 2010 salt reduction targets, for 85 categories of food, stricter, and set more challenging 2012 targets, for 80 categories of food.

Responding to the FSA's survey on salt intake reductions, Julian Hunt, Food and Drink Federation Director (FDF) of Communications, said: "This survey confirms that the leadership shown by the food industry over many years on salt reduction is making a real difference to the diets of UK consumers. Last year alone British shoppers saved the equivalent of almost 2,000 tonnes of salt in their total purchases across a number of food categories

"We are encouraged that FSA has recognised the work of the food manufacturing industry. We look forward to continuing to work with the Agency on further salt reductions in packaged foods, and will consult our members to see if the new targets are achievable. However, we do think FSA is right is to take a more holistic approach that focuses on all sources of salt in the diet.

"Industry's salt reduction efforts are underpinned by the widespread use of front-of-pack nutrition labels using Guideline Daily Amount information to educate consumers that they should aim to consume no more than 6g of salt a day."

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