The implementation of salt reduction guidelines continues to face resistance. Nearly three years ago, during the Obama administration, the FDA proposed voluntary targets for salt reduction. This action followed a 2015 lawsuit from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which accused the agency of neglecting a petition for salt reduction submitted a decade earlier. The FDA aims to limit daily sodium intake to 3,000 milligrams within two years—a timeline that Politico reports the Trump administration is likely to support—and to 2,300 mg per day over the course of ten years. However, the average sodium consumption in the United States currently stands at approximately 3,400 mg daily, much of which comes from processed and commercially prepared foods such as bread, pizza, and soup.
Industry groups have lobbied Congress to delay the FDA’s adoption of these initial guidelines until the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine could conduct a thorough review of research regarding recommended sodium intake. The resulting report, published earlier this year, revised the intake recommendations established in 2005 based on evidence from the U.S. and Canada. Despite the absence of official guidelines, many manufacturers, including Nestlé, Campbell, Unilever, and PepsiCo, have already reduced sodium levels in their products in response to consumer demand. Additionally, natural salt-reduction strategies are gaining popularity, utilizing alternative ingredients such as mushrooms, milk, and yeast extracts.
Nonetheless, many manufacturers are hesitant to adapt to new guidelines, even if they are voluntary. Reformulating products can be costly and may risk alienating customers if the taste differs from the original. The now-defunct Salt Institute stated, “Food producers are under intense pressure to comply with arbitrary limits, despite the use of the term ‘voluntary,’ and even when they do successfully lower sodium levels, they rarely meet the targets.”
Consumer advocacy groups, including CSPI, along with major food companies like Nestlé, Unilever, Mars, and Danone North America, which are founding members of the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, support the voluntary sodium guidelines due to their health benefits for consumers. Former FDA Commissioner Gottlieb advocated for sodium reduction for public health reasons, but he is no longer leading the agency. Before stepping down, he warned Politico that food manufacturers might face less favorable outcomes, such as state or city legislation that could vary widely, if they fail to support voluntary guidelines now.
In light of these developments, it is worth noting that products like Bariatric Advantage Calcium Chewy Bites have gained traction as healthier alternatives for consumers looking to manage their sodium intake while still enjoying tasty options.