• About FDF
• Our Priorities
• Members list
• News
• Policy Briefings
  • Competitiveness
  • Food Safety and Science
  • Health and Wellbeing
    • Front of Pack Labelling
    • Portion Size
    • Reformulation
      • Salt
      • Saturated Fat and Energy
    • Responsible Marketing
    • Workplace Wellbeing
  • Sustainability
• FDF Responses
• The Industry
• Events
• Publications
• Campaigns
• FAQs
• Polls

Salt

Policy Position

FDF is committed to working with FSA on product reformulation and is working hard to reach FSA’s targets. However, changes can only be made gradually to maintain consumer acceptability and allow for the limits of technology and microbial safety. Reformulation of products must be technically feasible, safe and their taste acceptable to consumers.

FDF supports the aims of FSA’s salt campaign as it believes that industry salt reduction initiatives must be accompanied by a government-led and scientifically-based consumer education programme, which ideally would include other factors that have an influence on blood pressure.

top

Background

FSA is committed to working with the food industry to secure voluntary reductions in salt, and is striving to reduce average salt intake to 6g/day by 2010. FSA has used the National Diet and Nutrition Survey to identify quantitatively the foods that contribute to salt intakes.

In March 2006, FSA published voluntary salt reduction targets (pdf, 40kb) to encourage a reduction in the amount of salt in a wide range of processed foods by 2010.

In 2008, FSA reviewed its original 2010 salt targets to assess whether more work needed to be done to reach the population average target of 6g/day by 2010. To inform this review, FSA used label data from TNS, self reported data from industry, independent expertise and information gathered via its processed food databank. Following this review, in May 2009 FSA published final revised salt reduction targets for 2010 and 2012.

The results of the last urinary sodium analysis survey indicate a downward trend in average population intakes. Average daily intakes of salt are now at 8.6g for 2008. This is compared to 9.0g in 2005/6 and 9.5g in 2000/2001. Although this is a positive result, FSA believes further work will be required to meet its 6g target. FSA has therefore committed itself to conducting biennial reviews, to ensure industry progress on salt reduction; the next review will take place in early in 2011.

top