The FDA's final guidance on recommendations to reduce sodium in processed foods and restaurant meals has been postponed. The agency announced on Aug. 18 that it has extended the comment period on the guidelines to give the food industry and public more time to respond. The public will now have until Oct. 17 to comment on the short-term sodium reduction plan that intends to lower the average sodium consumption to 3,000mg per day.
The comment period deadline to file for the long-term (10-year) sodium reduction targets of 2,300mg per day will end on December 2, 2016. The delay comes at the request of various food industry trade associations.
A reports from The Hill indicates that public health officials blame high levels of sodium consumption for health problems such as cardiovascular disease and heart failure. But the salt industry disputes these claims, stating that salt is an important resource not only for flavoring food but also for preserving it.
