Government demands less salt in processed food

Unilever should be applauded for being one of the first food producers to call for salt reduction in its products. In 2009 Unilever, which makes soup, spices, pasta and stock cubes, committed itself to reducing levels of salt in its products to target a dietary intake of 6g of salt a day by the end of 2010, with a further reduction to 5g a day by 2015. The latter is in line with the World Health Organization guidelines and could prevent conditions such as hypertension.
 
According to Unilever, raised blood pressure accounts for 60 percent of all strokes and 50 percent of all heart diseases. Unilever said current salt intake is equivalent to two heaped teaspoons daily in developed countries and about 75 percent of this does not come from table or cooking salt but rather from manufactured or pre-prepared foods.

Our government last Wednesday published in the Government Gazette draft regulations concerning the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act. Food manufacturers, including Tiger Brands, Pioneer Foods, Premier Foods and Kraft Foods, will have until 2016 to comply with the first set of sodium targets, and another two years to meet the next. The regulation also requires that all food manufactured, imported and sold in South Africa be labelled with detailed nutritional and compositional information. While manufacturers change their labelling, active salt reduction is advised.

Business Watch: Business Report, 17 July 2012