Too much salt?

Will the FDA impose limits?

By Culinate staff

May 4, 2010

You’ve gotta have salt to survive, and it sure makes food tastier. But most processed food has way too much salt, and a recent report called for the FDA to set limits on how much Americans should consume. As the New York Times noted,

Federal dietary guidelines say people should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, which is equivalent to about a teaspoon of salt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended that people at risk of high blood pressure consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily. But the Institute of Medicine report said Americans on average take in about 3,400 milligrams of sodium.

Meanwhile, Marion Nestle reports on her blog that 16 companies — from Starbucks to Subway to Boar’s Head — are voluntarily cutting the salt in their products.