The World Health Organization… calls for less salt

The World Health Organization.. calls for less salt

In a report, the first of its kind, “World Health Organization” indicated the importance of reducing sodium use by 30% by 2025. The report explains the importance of reducing sodium in saving the lives of about 7 million people around the world by 2030; It is one of the essential nutrients that increases the risk of heart disease. The first source of sodium istable salt “sodium chloride”, and it is also found in spices, such as: “sodium glutamate”. The report showed that only 3% of the world’s population has mandatory policies that limit sodium, and that 73% of the member states of the “World Health Organization” are in need of such mandatory policies, which would reduce the number of deaths resulting from non-communicable diseases. This is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report stated that only nine countries in the world currently have a set of policies that call for reducing sodium in foods, namely: Chile, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Lithuania, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Uruguay, and Spain.

In the same context, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the Organization, said: “Unhealthy foods are a major cause of deaths around the world.” Pointing out the danger of excessive sodium intake, as it is one of the main causes of these diseases and the subsequent deaths.

In the same context – speaking about the danger of excessive sodium intake – Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of the “Determination to Save Lives” initiative, a non-profit organization that works with countries to avoid 100 million deaths, said: of cardiovascular disease over 30 years: “The WHO report makes clear that countries must act urgently to implement ambitious and mandatory policies to reduce sodium intake, and governments must lead these policies; To reach the global goal of reducing salt consumption by 2025; In addition, it is important for governments to implement proven measures and support innovations that seek to create foods with lower levels of sodium. The world needs to take immediate action. In order to prevent large numbers of people from suffering disabling or fatal heart attacks and strokes.

Therefore, the World Health Organization calls on the peoples of the Earth to implement the best options to reduce sodium intake in diets, while implementing standards related to the sodium content of foods. These options include:

• Reformulating foods to contain less salt.
• Create policies to reduce sodium-rich foods in public institutions, workplaces, and nursing homes.
• Write warnings on packages, to help consumers choose products that adhere to such health policies.
• Organizing awareness campaigns to publicize the dangers of sodium.

Ultimately, WHO believes that salt reduction policies can protect commercial interests, in addition to health requirements, while providing a level playing field among food manufacturers; To this end, the organization developed – within the framework of the report – a national scorecard on sodium for member states, which is based on the type and number of policies to reduce sodium intake.