§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the recommended daily salt intake for health purposes; and what steps he takes to publicise this information;
(2) what discussions his Department has held with the food industry about avoiding increasing the salt content of foods and exploring ways of decreasing the amounts added at present.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Department does not make specific recommendations for the dietary intake of sodium and sodium chloride—common salt. The evidence suggests that little, if any, additional salt is required over and above that which is naturally present in food. Accordingly, in the booklet "Eating for Health", 1979, the Department advises that it may be beneficial if people add less salt to their food.
A new panel of the committee on the medical aspects of food policy set up to examine the relationship of diet to cardiovascular disease will be considering the evidence about salt consumption and is expected to make recommendations. Any approach to the food industry would be made in the light of these recommendations.