To promote the prevention of cardiovascular disease, a multi-sector consortium convened by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) endorsed a plan to reduce dietary salt consumption in the Americas by half by the year 2020.
Currently, average salt consumption in most of the regions countries is twice the recommended level of 5 grams per person per day. The SaltSmart consortiums new 2013-2018 action plan proposes a series of commitments and actions aimed at reducing salt consumption at the population level, including campaigns to raise public awareness about the importance of salt reduction as well as steps to reduce salt in industrially processed foods.
Modern diets typically provide excessive quantities of salt, said Branka Legetic, interim coordinator of PAHO/WHO chronic non-communicable disease program and coordinator of its Salt Reduction Initiative.
Reducing dietary salt intake is the most cost-effective measure for reducing the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Consuming more than 5 grams of salt (or 2,300 milligrams of sodium) per day increases the risk of high blood pressure, which is the leading risk factor for death from heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure.
In lower-income countries, up to 70% of dietary salt is added during cooking, whereas in developed countries, the largest proportion of salt is consumed in industrially processed foods.
The SaltSmart action plan aims to raise public awareness of the need to reduce salt in cooking but also seeks to establish goals and timelines and identify best practices for reformulating processed foods to contain less salt. The plan also seeks to identify and prioritize research gaps in such areas as consumer attitudes and behaviour and the economic impacts of high-salt diets and reduced intake levels.
The plan will also promote analysis of the role of the food-processing industry with regard to the use of iodized salt. Carrying out these actions will require participation and commitment by the public sector, food processors, the restaurant industry, food vendors, academia, civil society and society in general, said Irene Klinger, manager of External Relations and Partnerships at PAHO/WHO.
Eduardo Fernandes Nilson, nutrition coordinator in Brazils Ministry of Health, said the SmartSalt consortium was a useful regional example that could inspire wider multi-sector participation in his country to improve nutrition. Adriana Blanco, a researcher at the Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching on Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA), said it is important that this initiative be approved by all the countries of the Americas. T
he SmartSalt consortium can help consumers become better informed about the products they are eating, said Hubert Linders, information advisor at Consumers International, based in Chile. Victor Coombs, chairman of Partner Forum for NCD and an official in Trinidad and Tobagos Ministry of Health, said it was necessary in some countries to strengthen capacity for collecting data on salt consumption. He also urged the involvement of health workers and community organizations in salt reduction efforts.
Representatives of the food industry said they were committed to salt reduction and noted that in countries that have already reduced the salt content of processed foods, food companies have seen economically favourable results. The activities contained in the SaltSmart plan of action are aligned with the recommendations of the PAHO Regional Expert Group on Cardiovascular Diseases, the PAHO/WHO plan of action and Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, and the United Nations declaration on non-communicable diseases of September 2011.
The SaltSmart consortium is an initiative of PAHO/WHOs Pan American Forum for Action on Non-communicable Diseases (PAFNCDs).
SaltSmart was launched in 2012 to support efforts in the countries of the Americas to reduce salt consumption and promote healthier diets. This weeks meeting was the second held at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C., and brought together representatives of governments, civil society, academia and the food industry.
Bernama
Tue Jun 18 2013
![Plan to reduce dietary salt consumption in the Americas by half by 2020. Plan to reduce dietary salt consumption in the Americas by half by 2020.](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-03/51363616519_295x200.jpg)
10 Berita Pilihan - (15 Ogos 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pasukan PBB lawat Bangladesh, siasat pembunuhan protes pelajar
Pasukan penyiasat Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) akan melawat Bangladesh minggu depan untuk menyiasat ratusan kematian semasa protes yang diketuai pelajar baru-baru ini, menurut pegawai badan dunia itu pada Khamis.
Gempa bumi bermagnitud 5.7 gegar timur laut Taiwan
Gempa bumi berukuran 5.7 skala richter melanda daerah Timur Laut Taiwan pada Khamis.
Angka kematian di Gaza cecah 40,000 individu
Pasukan tentera Israel melakukan tiga pembunuhan beramai-ramai terhadap keluarga-keluarga di Semenanjung Gaza dalam tempoh 24 jam lepas, mengakibatkan sekurang-kurangnya 40 rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan 107 lagi cedera, menurut sumber perubatan.
Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega
Dalam tempoh berjaga-jaga, Agensi Meteorologi Jepun tidak melihat sebarang pergerakan gempa bumi yang luar biasa atau kerak bumi.
Rakyat UK terancam dengan imigran rampas peluang pekerjaan
Bimbang golongan imigran akan merampas peluang peluang pekerjaan menjadikan rakyat United KIngdom terutamanya mereka yang mempunyai masalah ekonomi melihat imigran sebagai satu ancaman.
Parti Pheu Thai pilih anak perempuan Thaksin calon PM
Paetongtarn, 37, adalah anak perempuan kepada jutawan yang juga bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pemilihan anak Thaksin sebagai PM Thailand dianggap tidak efektif
Pemilihan anak perempuan bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, untuk menggantikan Srettha Thavisin sebagai Perdana Menteri negara itu dianggap sebagai tidak efektif.
![Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723343252_Palestiniansmourn.jpg)
Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera
Perkhidmatan kecemasan masih tidak dapat membantu ramai mangsa dan membawa keluar mayat yang terperangkap di bawah runtuhan.
DNA mangsa kebakaran di Pagoh diperoleh, jenazah dijangka dikebumikan esok
Polis mengesahkan telah menerima laporan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) dua mayat mangsa yang rentung dalam kebakaran rumah di Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh, Johor Jumaat lepas.