Calls for mandatory salt reduction targets in British food

Progress in reducing the amount of salt eaten by Britons has “stalled”, experts warned in an open letter tweeted to prime minister Boris Johnson on Sunday (24).

Claiming that food consumed by the British public is “full” of salt, medical experts group Action on Salt has called for mandatory salt reduction targets for UK food companies.

The group, led by Action on Salt, said voluntary salt reduction targets were successful until 2011 but progress has now stalled, which is leading to “thousands of premature deaths”.

Action on Salt said that the food industry is not complying with voluntary salt reduction targets and “now is the time for mandatory, comprehensive salt reduction targets”.

With most of our salt intake coming from the food we buy, the food industry should and must be held accountable. Support our call to prioritise salt reduction by signing our letter https://t.co/lP6a4aig9o pic.twitter.com/52tz4oJKXY

— Action on Salt (@actiononsalt) April 25, 2022

“Despite the Food Standards Agency successfully setting voluntary salt reduction targets in 2004 across more than 80 categories of processed food which led to population salt intake falling by 15 percent in 2011 (with a calculated cost saving to the NHS of £1.5bn per year), progress has since stalled, leading to thousands of premature deaths,” says Action on Salt. 

“The food industry has proven they cannot comply with voluntary measures. Now is the time for mandatory, comprehensive salt reduction targets to ensure success and create a level playing field.”

Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Chairman of Action on Salt, said that reducing salt is the most cost-effective measure for lowering blood pressure and reducing the number of people suffering and dying from strokes, heart disease and life changing disabilities. 

“Food companies have the very simple option to reformulate with less salt and help prevent the many thousands of people who currently die unnecessarily. However, companies are making very little effort to comply with the current voluntary targets. As a result, the amount of salt the nation eats is not falling. Therefore, the Government must enforce its comprehensive salt reduction targets without delay,” MacGregor said.

The open letter is supported by a group of 236 experts including nutritionists, dietitians, researchers, pharmacists, nurses and GPs including the Royal Society for Public Health, the Faculty of Public Health, Blood Pressure UK, Early Start Nutrition, Heart UK and London Early Years Foundation – plus members of the public.