§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the consumption of salt by children; and if he will make a statement. [120882]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonWe have not received any specific representations on the consumption of salt by children.
In 2001, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed to consider the issue of salt and health, at the request of the Food Standards Agency and the Chief Medical Officer for Wales. In response to SACN's call for submissions, the Co-op, Safeway, British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Food and Drink Federation (PDF) and the Salt Manufacturers Association (SMA) acknowledged that there was a need to assess salt in childhood and/or provide guidance. Submissions are on the SACN website (sacn.gov.uk).
The draft SACN report on salt and health underwent a period of consultation at the end of 2002. Responses are posted on the SACN website. All responses to the consultation were fully considered by the SACN salt sub-group. The minority of organisations who queried the basis of the salt targets for children did so on the extent of the evidence available and the methods used by the sub-group to establish salt targets for children. The sub-group's deliberations are minuted on the SACN website.