§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on levels of dietary sodium intake; and if he will make a statement. [167846]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe NHS Plan (2000) highlighted the Government's commitment to reducing the level of salt in the diet. The Government endorses the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommendation that reducing current salt consumption would have significant public health benefits by reducing average population blood pressure levels. The report also makes recommendations for children for the first time.
As 75 per cent. of salt in the diet is from processed foods, the Government, working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), has made a commitment to initiatives with the food industry—including manufacturers and caterers—to improve the overall balance of diet including salt, fat and sugar in food.
In November last year, I asked industry for plans for action on reducing salt in food. The plans I received earlier this year showed that industry is taking some steps in reducing salt in food, but that there is still a long way to go. Further discussions with industry will take place to look at identifying greater year-on-year progress and ways of monitoring progress.
The FSA has also set salt targets—to reduce average salt intake by 10 per cent., or approximately 1g. per day, by 2005–06 and, in the long term to reduce the average population intake by a third over the next five years—bringing intakes down to the recommended 6g. per day. The Department supports these targets.