Volume
10, Number 5 - May 2009
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Dear Readers, Did you know that nearly
70% of U.S. adults should consume no more that
1500 milligrams of sodium per day? Knowing the facts might
lead some food labelers to rethink product formulations.
Read Food Label News to learn more. |
Q. What is the
2400 milligram Daily Value for sodium based on?
C.B.,
Dietitian, NE
A.
The Institute of
Medicine's most recent (2004) Recommended
Dietary Intake for sodium established 1.5g per
day as the Adequate Intake (AI) and 2.3g per day
as the Upper Limit (UL).
Read
more.
Submit a question
for Reader Q&A (no charge). |
Per
CDC: 1500 mg Sodium Limit for Most
Adults
In a March 26, 2009, news release, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the finding
from their study of National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, that
69.2% of U.S. adults are in the population group
that are advised by the 2005 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans to limit sodium intake
to 1500 mg per day. Individuals with
high blood pressure, blacks, and adults more
than 40 years old characterize the group; adults not
in this group should limit sodium intake to 2300
mg per day.
This CDC study is the first to use
national data to show what percent of the adult
population belongs to the group that is advised
to limit sodium to no more than 1500 mg per day.
In contrast to the recommended sodium levels,
the estimated average intake of sodium for
persons in the United States aged 2 years and
older was 3436 mg per day in NHANES 2005-2006.
Read
news release
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Plan to Lower Sodium Includes Food Industry
A March 26, 2009, news release (see above) announced that
the Institute of Medicine was commissioned by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) to review and make recommendations about
strategies that can be employed to reduce sodium
intake to levels recommended by the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. The study is prompted
by the recent finding by CDC that nearly 70% of
U.S. adults should consume no more than 1500
mg of sodium per day.
The Institute's start date was September 2008
and a report is to be made public by February
2010. The committee will consider many options
including:
-
government
approaches - regulatory and legislative
actions
-
food supply
approaches - new product development, food
reformulation
-
information/education strategies for the
public and professionals
Commentary:
Food Consulting Company can help manufacturers
with product reformulation efforts for sodium
and other nutrients. See
services.
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Food Labels/Sodium & Food Label News Archive
Food Label
News archive can be helpful to food
manufacturers as they consider how the sodium
content of their products may become a benefit
or a liability. The following articles are
recommended and will lead to additional helpful
reading:
August 2006,
health-concerned stakeholders announced demands
regarding action to reduce salt consumption
November 2007,
FDA announced public meeting on the current
framework of policies relating to salt and
sodium in foods
October 2008,
stakeholder comments on current FDA policies
relating to salt and sodium in foods
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At Your Service: Karen Duester,
Food Consulting Company President, moderated a
session on FDA food labeling at the April 2009
Federal Food Regulatory Conference, hosted by
Prime Label Consultants in Washington, D.C.
Session handouts
are available.
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Copyright 2009, Food Consulting Company.
www.foodlabels.com.
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