Grocery Manufacturers Association Releases Science Policy Paper on Sodium and Salt

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) today released Sodium and Salt: A Guide for Consumers, Policymakers and the Media, a science policy paper that provides policymakers, consumers, journalists and health professionals with current and scientifically accurate information and resources on sodium and salt.


"The food industry takes seriously its commitment to develop products that provide choices for consumers interested in managing their intake of salt (sodium chloride) and sodium," said Robert Brackett, chief science officer for GMA. "Companies are achieving lower sodium in products through extensive research, reformulation, new salt reduction technology and new product development. Thanks to these industry efforts, today there are more and more sodium- or salt-modified products available nationwide for consumers in the marketplace."

The policy paper takes a closer look at the basics of sodium and salt, the effect too much or too little sodium can have on a person, and what the food industry can do to help. Sodium is an essential nutrient, so some sodium and salt is needed as part of a healthy diet. "The food industry can play a key role in offering consumers lower-salt food choices with conventional and modified levels of salt or sodium," the paper suggests.

"We hope this paper can be a useful resource for policy makers, including the Institute of Medicine's committee on Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake convening tomorrow in Washington, DC, and charged to make recommendations to help consumers find ways to meet the daily intake goal of 2,300 mg of sodium in the federal government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005," continued Brackett.

Please visit http://www.gmaonline.org/publications/sciencepolicyseries.cfm to access GMA's science policy paper on sodium and salt.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world's leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The Association promotes sound public policy, champion's initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the Association's member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation's economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at http://www.gmaonline.org