The World Health Organization (WHO) on May 5, 2021 issued fresh guidelines for limiting sodium content.
- The new WHO benchmarks, for 64 food and drink categories, are aimed at guiding health authorities in its 194 member states in talks with the food and beverage industry.
- Potato crisps should contain a maximum of 500 mgs of sodium per 100g serving, pies and pastries up to 120 mgs and processed meats up to 360mgs, according to its benchmarks.
- WHO recommends that people consume less than 5g of salt (or less than 2g of sodium) per day.
- An estimated 11 million deaths globally are associated with poor diet each year, including 3 million attributable to high sodium intake.
- In many wealthy countries, and increasingly in lower income nations, a significant proportion of sodium in the diet comes from manufactured foods such as bread, cereal, processed meats and dairy products including cheese.
- According to the WHO, high sodium intake is associated with obesity, chronic kidney disease and gastric cancer.
