A first-of-its-kind World Health Organization Global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is likely to miss the global target of reducing sodium intake by 30 per cent by 2025.
Sodium, an essential nutrient, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death when consumed in excess.
The main source of sodium is table salt (sodium chloride), but it is also found in other condiments such as sodium glutamate.
The report shows that only five per cent of WHO Member States are protected by mandatory and comprehensive sodium reduction policies and 73 per cent of WHO Member States lack full range of implementation of such policies.
Implementing highly cost-effective sodium reduction policies could save an estimated seven million lives globally by 2030.
WHO says this is an important component of action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing deaths from non-communicable diseases.
But only nine countries (Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay) have a comprehensive package of recommended policies to reduce sodium intake.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits.
The World Health Organization is calling for all countries to implement the 'Best Buys' for sodium reduction, and is urging manufacturers to implement the WHO benchmarks for sodium content in food.
All feeds
