MILFORD, CT - Subway sandwich chain announced plans earlier this week to reduce significantly the sodium content in its sandwiches, USA Today reports.

Effective immediately, the sodium content in Subway??s "Fresh Fit" sandwich line in the U.S. has been trimmed 28 percent versus 2009, with the sodium in its overall sandwich line down by 15 percent versus last year.

With the move, Subway becomes the first national QSR to undertake such a sizable sodium reduction.

"It??s a huge deal," said Lanette Kovachi, corporate dietician at Subway. "We??re the biggest in the industry and we??re saying that sodium reduction can be done."

As a result of recipe tinkering, the sodium in a Subway Fresh Fit 6-inch sandwich dropped by 287 milligrams to 737 milligrams, versus 1,024 in the previous version. The sodium in the 6-inch ham sandwich dropped by 430 milligrams to 830, versus 1,260 in 2009 (those figures exclude cheese, pickles, olives, and dressing).

Subway??s move in its U.S. stores follows sodium reduction strides it has already made in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Later this year, the FDA is expected to announce plans to advocate for lower sodium totals in foods.