A pinch of salt can save lives, WHO says

Excess salt intake increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other health problems. Eating too much salt is one of the top risk factors for heart disease and death.

The report says global salt intake is around 10 grams per day on average, more than double the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation limit of five grams a day. Eating too much may lead to death.

“Most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke and other health problems,” the report shows. 

Only nine countries, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Uruguay have comprehensive mandatory policies in place to reduce sodium intake.

The World Health Organization says, “If countries implement cost-effective sodium reduction nearly 7 million lives could be saved globally by 2030”.

The World Health Organization outlines four interventions related to sodium which greatly contribute to preventing non-communicable diseases. They include:

1. Reformulating foods to contain less salt 

2. Establishing public food procurement policies to limit salt or sodium-rich foods in public institutions 

3. Front-of-package labelling that helps consumers select products lower in sodium.

4. Behaviour change communication and mass media campaigns to reduce salt.

WHO calls on Member of States to implement sodium intake reduction policies without delay and to mitigate the harmful effects of excessive salt consumption.