FSA urges food industry to cut back salt levels further

The food industry needs to do more to reduce salt consumption in the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned today.

The verdict came as the organisation published revised targets for salt levels in food in a bid to achieve the Government's national salt-intake target of 6g per day for adults.

The voluntary salt reduction targets, which are to be met by industry by 2012, apply to 80 categories of food including bread, meat products, pizza, ready meals and savoury snacks, which according to the FSA are the biggest contributors to salt in our diet.

Rosemary Hignett, the FSA's head of nutrition, said the UK was leading the way in salt reduction, and targets achieved had already saved lives.

"To continue to make progress we have set 2012 targets at levels that will make a further real impact on consumers' intakes, while taking into account technical and safety issues associated with taking salt out of food,” she said.

"The 2012 targets are challenging, but achievable, though we will continue to monitor this.”

Sue Davies, chief policy adviser at Which? welcomed the new targets.

“However, food manufacturers and retailers cannot afford to be complacent, and must not lose momentum on this issue,” she warned.

“The food industry must commit to meeting these new targets if they are serious about combating diet-related disease.”

Marco Pierre White this weekend joined the salt debate, urging parents to teach their children to eat less salt.

Marco turns the heat on salt >>

Five restaurant chains join FSA healthy eating drive >>

High street restaurant chains serving too much salt in meals >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.

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