Since being on a diet (more of a "no treats" and three square meals a day kind of thing for now) I have been very conscious of the amount of salt I eat. Particularly since I have a large family to feed, 3 kids, a husband and a cat! A new Food Standards Agency Survey has revealed that on average, we consume 8.6g of salt a day, compared to the recommended amount of 6g per day. This may sound like a lot but prior to the FSA's salt campaign, that started back in 2004, we have cut back by a whole 1g.
The survey also revealed that 85% of people tend to stick to the same brands of foods they buy regularly, such as bread, ketchup and breakfast cereals. However, a quarter of these people (26%) said they would change from their usual brand if they knew that a lower salt option was available. And furthermore, 37% of respondents were either ‘very concerned' or ‘quite concerned' about the amount of salt they eat.
Rosemary Hignett, Head of Nutrition at the Food Standards Agency, said "Salt intakes are coming down, but if we are to get closer to meeting our target of reducing intakes to 6g a day, people need to become more aware of the foods which contribute to intakes, as it isn't just the obvious things we need to watch out for as far as salt is concerned."
"We're not suggesting people stop eating or even cut down on bread or breakfast cereals, as they are important part of a healthy diet. But we are saying take a look at the labels to find one that is lower in salt. This could be a supermarket own-label product, and maybe one from the ‘value' range. If so, any cost saving is an added bonus.
So, is there a science behind the 6g a day? Well, actually there is, The Food Standards Agency's advice on salt intake for adults and children is based on sound science, underpinned by the recommendations of the independent Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which carried out a thorough and comprehensive risk assessment on salt and associated health outcomes.
The compelling evidence for an association between salt and blood pressure is described in detail in SACN's report, Salt and Health (2003). SACN identified and evaluated the evidence relevant to an association between salt intake and health outcomes from a wide range of published scientific evidence (approximately 200 studies) that had become available since COMA's considerations in the early 1990s, and the recommendations made at that time to reduce the salt intakes of the UK population to 6g.
SACN concluded that the evidence for a link between salt intake and blood pressure had increased since 1994. The current high levels of salt habitually consumed by the population raise the risk of high blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke and premature death from cardiovascular diseases. SACN confirmed that the population as a whole would benefit from reducing their intake to 6g per day. SACN also set lower recommended maximum levels of salt intake for babies and children. The 6g target is supported by many medical and research bodies including the BMA and the MRC.
Keep an eye out for the current FSA Salt campaign on bill boards and TV.
