Salt Institute: Government Report Calling For Mandatory Salt Reduction Not Based On Sound Science

The Institute of Medicine report calling for mandatory sodium reduction by restaurants, food manufacturers and food service suppliers is reckless and flawed according to the Salt Institute.

"Salt is an essential nutrient. Need for salt varies based on multiple factors including genetics, health status, overall diet, activity level, exercise and climate, so requirements vary from individual to individual and from day to day. Population wide sodium reduction strategies are reckless and not based on the whole body of science," said Salt Institute President Lori Roman.

According to Salt Institute Technical Director and well known author and food scientist Mort Satin, population wide sodium reduction strategies are not based on the whole body of science. "Several peer-reviewed publications indicate that congestive heart failure patients die or are readmitted to hospital in far greater numbers than those not placed on low salt diets. In 1995, the first of a series of observational studies testing the salt hypothesis on blood pressure and cardiovascular health was published (Alderman 1995) and, using U.S. government data, it found a fourfold greater incidence of heart attacks among those on low-salt diets."

The Salt Institute has been calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct randomized clinical trials with objective scientists before embarking on a population wide plan which will make human guinea pigs of an entire population without their knowledge and consent. "When you have conflicting science on a matter of such importance, it is immoral to proceed with mandatory actions without knowing the effect on the overall health of the entire population," said Roman. "When the intake of salt is too low, the result is impaired cognitive function, impaired growth and development, increased incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality. Very low sodium levels can increase the risk of diabetes, and result in loss of balance in the elderly. We call on the federal government to conduct randomized clinical trials before proceeding."

About the Salt Institute
The Salt Institute is the world's foremost source of authoritative information about salt (sodium chloride) and its more than 14,000 known uses. The Institute is a North American-based nonprofit salt industry trade association dedicated to advocating responsible uses of salt, particularly to ensure winter roadway safety, quality water and healthy nutrition. The Institute was founded in 1914 and consists of the leading salt companies in the world united in the common purpose of bringing the myriad benefits of salt to the benefit of mankind.

SOURCE: Salt Institute