Excessive Sodium Consumption to Be Limited

The Food and Drug Administration is planning a long-term effort to reduce the salt consumed each day by Americans, saying that less sodium in everything from soup to nuts would prevent thousands of deaths from hypertension and heart disease. The initiative, to be launched this year, and planned to be gradually implemented, would eventually lead to the first legal limits on the amount of salt allowed in food products.

About 77% of the salt consumed by Americans comes from processed foods, making it difficult for consumers to limit salt to healthy levels, experts say. Working with food manufacturers, the government would set limits for salt; the changes would be calibrated so that consumers barely notice the modification. 

Sources: The Washington Post and msnbc.com