Reducing Sodium in the Global Food Supply to Reduce Population Burden of Cardiovascular Disease

Populations around the world are consuming salt in quantities that far exceed physiological requirements. In view of the association of a high salt intake with hypertension, cardiovascular and kidney disease, many countries have introduced population-based recommendations and initiatives to reduce salt intake. Salt reduction is recognised as one of the most cost-effective public health strategies that a country can make in reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. As such, the World Health Organisation has recommended salt reduction as one of the top three priority actions to tackle the non-communicable disease crisis. At the recent World Health Assembly, it was unanimously agreed that all countries should reduce their salt intake by 30 % towards a target of 5 g/day, by 2025. Many countries are now looking to follow in the footsteps of the UK, who are considered world leaders in this area.