Reducing sodium in packaged foods

The study stated that India has a unique opportunity to enhance dietary quality by lowering sodium content in packaged foods before they become the mainstay of diets.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) set new global guidelines for sodium levels in packaged foods, so promote health benefits for populations worldwide.

A recent study by The George Institute for Global Health, published in The Lancet Public Health, focused specifically on India and highlighted the urgent need to reduce sodium consumption, given its role as a leading cause of death and illness globally.

As per the WHO, a salt intake of less than 5 grams (approximately 2g sodium) per person per day is recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally.

In India, the rising popularity of packaged foods, often high in sodium, poses a significant public health challenge.

The study stated that India has a unique opportunity to enhance dietary quality by lowering sodium content in packaged foods before they become the mainstay of diets. Once consumers develop a taste for salty foods, reducing sodium levels may become more difficult, the researchers said.

The study's findings are compelling. It estimates that adhering to the WHO's sodium guidelines could prevent approximately 3,00,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the first decade alone.

Around 1.7 million new CVD cases and 700,000 new CKD cases could be avoided compared to current practices. These reductions could lead to savings of nearly $800 million (Rs 67.3 billion) in healthcare costs associated with chronic diseases, totalling $2.5 billion (Rs 210.2 billion) over a person’s lifetime.