New York Mayor Touts Success of Salt Reduction Campaign

Food manufacturers have been quietly lowering the amount of sodium in name-brand foods.

February 13, 2013

NEW YORK - In 2008, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his war on salt, asking food makers and restaurants to pledge to lower the sodium content in their foods. This week, Bloomberg reveals that 21 of those companies have met the voluntary targets so far, the Associated Press/Wall Street Journal reports.

For example, a slice of Kraft American cheese now packs 18% less sodium. Ragu Old World Style pasta sauce dropped its salt content by 20%, while Honey Teddy Grahams contain 33% less sodium. While dietary guidelines say salt consumption should be limited to less than 2,300 milligrams daily, the average intake of sodium in the United States is far greater at 3,300 milligrams a day, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The products they're making healthier are some of America's most beloved and iconic foods," said Bloomberg, He pointed out that Subway??s Italian BMT ?" of which the mayor is a big fan ?" now contains 27% less salt.

The campaign to lower salt focused on reducing sodium levels in the foods by a fourth by 2014. Bloomberg also wants to lower the overall consumption of salt by 20% during the same period.

The challenge for food manufacturers is to make the foods taste just as good with less salt. "If you don't make foods that taste good, people don't buy them, and, in the end, we haven't really done anything to impact the diet in the country," said Russ Moroz, vice president of research for Kraft Foods Inc.

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