WHO Kicks Against Excessive Consumption of Salt , Records 1.89M Deaths Each Year

The World Health Organization(WHO) has estimated 1.89 million deaths each year to be associated with consuming too much sodium, a well-established cause of raised blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (2).

 The burden of unhealthy diets which constitutes a major public health worldwide requires urgent action to modify the over-production and over-consumption of foods and beverages that do not have a healthy nutritional profile.

WHO said one of the greatest concern is excess consumption of sodium, sugars and unhealthy fats, particularly trans-fatty acids (trans fats) and saturated fatty acids, and low consumption of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits. In many high-income countries, and increasingly in low- and middle-income countries, a significant proportion of sodium in the diet comes from processed foods.

However, Reducing sodium intake is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve health and reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases, as it can avert a large number of cardiovascular events and deaths at very low total programme costs.

 WHO recommends a number of sodium-related best buy policies as practical actions that countries should undertake promptly to prevent cardiovascular disease and its associated costs. These include lowering of sodium content in foods; implementing front-of-pack labelling; mass media campaigns; and public food procurement and service.

Recommendations for salt reduction

For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt (just under a teaspoon).

For children aged 2–15 years, WHO recommends adjusting the adult dose downward based on their energy requirements. This recommendation for children does not address the period of exclusive breastfeeding (0–6 months) or complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding (6–24 months).

All salt that is consumed should be iodized (fortified with iodine), which is essential for healthy brain development in the foetus and young child and optimizing people’s mental function in general.