Action on salt and health
Monday, March 26, 2012 at 10:10
Simon Clark

It's Salt Awareness Week this week.

I know this because I was sent a press release that includes the following information:

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is issuing some easy to understand facts and tips for consumers to take advantage of to coincide with Salt Awareness Week.

How Much Salt Should We Consume?
The recommended daily salt intake is just 6g (less for children). On average we consume 8.6g (about 2 teaspoons).

Some of the salt we consume comes from: the salt we use in cooking; salt we add at the table.

Surprisingly, about 75% of our salt intake comes from salt already added to food we eat, such as meat products, ready meals, soups, pasta sauces, bread and some breakfast cereals.

Handy Salt Tips!
Use little or no salt in cooking and try not to add extra salt at the table.

In fact, leave the salt off the dinner table all together.

Cut right back on salty processed foods and ready meals and try and make your own if you can.

Check food labels for salt and go for lower salt choices. There can be a big difference between different brands sometimes.

Ask in restaurants and take-away outlets for no salt.

Food Containing Salt
Salty meats and meat products such as ham, bacon, sausages, pate and salami.

Canned, packet and instant soups.

Ketchup, soy sauce, mayo and pickles.

Stock cubes, gravy powder and salted flavourings.

Any canned food containing salt.

Smoked meat and fish, prawns and anchovies.

Meat and yeast extracts.

Cheese.

Salted snacks, salted nuts, salted biscuits and popcorn.

High salt ready meals, sauces and take-away meals like pizza, Chinese and Indian.

Pasta sauces.

Sandwiches.

Bread and breakfast cereals (these are an important part of a healthy diet and bread and some cereals contain salt, so check and compare labels before making your choice).

Now, you could argue that this is useful information and I wouldn't disagree.

My fear is that it is only a matter of time before connoisseurs of salt are increasingly demonised for our fetish until we finally succumb to the pressure to eat bland food that tastes, well, like nothing at all.

The BDA says: “Eating too much salt can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure is a major risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. By reducing your salt intake it is possible to reduce this risk, so it’s well worth doing.

"A lot of everyday foods are not obviously salty, but do contain high amounts of ‘hidden salt’. It’s easier to make healthier food choices if you are able to quickly check salt content on food labels.

"Switching to a lower salt choice of a food, particularly if you eat it a lot or in large portions, can make a big difference to your daily salt intake. Reducing your intake of salty foods is an important part of a healthy diet.”

I don't know about you but reading that is doing nothing for my blood pressure. In fact I am sure it has gone up even more!

To its credit at least the BDA is promoting a harm reduction policy not a "quit or die" message. But for how long?

PS. You won't be surprised to know there is a group called Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH). Supporters include the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Asthma UK and, er, Antony Worrall Thompson!!

At least he's not been blackballed because he supports Forest ...

Article originally appeared on Simon Clark (http://taking-liberties.squarespace.com/).
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