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NEW DELHI: The world is off-track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30%, by 2025, a first-of-its-kind World Health Organisation (WHO) Global report on sodium intake reduction shows. Sodium is a key component of the common salt we consume daily.
The report shows that most countries, including India, are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, which the UN health body says puts people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems.
WHO recommends several sodium-related best buys policies as practical actions that should be undertaken immediately, to prevent cardiovascular disease and its associated costs. These include lowering sodium content in food products; implementing front-of-pack labelling to help consumers select food products with lower sodium content; conducting mass media campaigns to alter consumer behaviour around sodium; and implementing public food procurement and service policies to reduce sodium content in food served or sold, according to a press statement issued by the UN health agency.
Sodium-rich salt is now being over-consumed across the world to the detriment of health overall, the WHO said, adding that currently the global average intake of sodium is estimated to be 10.8 grams per day which is more than double the WHO recommendation of less than 5 grams, or one teaspoon, daily.
As part of the report, WHO developed a sodium country scorecard for member states based on the type and number of sodium reduction policies they have in place.
The scorecard depicts countries that have made a national policy commitment towards sodium reduction (Score 1), have implemented voluntary measures to reduce sodium in the food supply or encourage consumers to make healthier food choices (Score 2), have implemented mandatory declaration of sodium on pre-packaged food and implement at least one mandatory measure for sodium reduction (Score 3) and have implemented mandatory declaration of sodium on pre-packaged food and implement multiple mandatory measures for sodium reduction as well as all the sodium-related WHO Best Buys for tackling NCDs (Score 4). India’s score is 2 as it has implemented voluntary measures to reduce sodium in the food supply or encourage consumers to make healthier food choices.
Only nine countries (Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay) have a comprehensive package of recommended policies, according to the UN health body.
The report shows that most countries, including India, are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, which the UN health body says puts people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems.
WHO recommends several sodium-related best buys policies as practical actions that should be undertaken immediately, to prevent cardiovascular disease and its associated costs. These include lowering sodium content in food products; implementing front-of-pack labelling to help consumers select food products with lower sodium content; conducting mass media campaigns to alter consumer behaviour around sodium; and implementing public food procurement and service policies to reduce sodium content in food served or sold, according to a press statement issued by the UN health agency.
Sodium-rich salt is now being over-consumed across the world to the detriment of health overall, the WHO said, adding that currently the global average intake of sodium is estimated to be 10.8 grams per day which is more than double the WHO recommendation of less than 5 grams, or one teaspoon, daily.
As part of the report, WHO developed a sodium country scorecard for member states based on the type and number of sodium reduction policies they have in place.
The scorecard depicts countries that have made a national policy commitment towards sodium reduction (Score 1), have implemented voluntary measures to reduce sodium in the food supply or encourage consumers to make healthier food choices (Score 2), have implemented mandatory declaration of sodium on pre-packaged food and implement at least one mandatory measure for sodium reduction (Score 3) and have implemented mandatory declaration of sodium on pre-packaged food and implement multiple mandatory measures for sodium reduction as well as all the sodium-related WHO Best Buys for tackling NCDs (Score 4). India’s score is 2 as it has implemented voluntary measures to reduce sodium in the food supply or encourage consumers to make healthier food choices.
Only nine countries (Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay) have a comprehensive package of recommended policies, according to the UN health body.
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