NYC Health Commissioner Wages War on Salt
By Tom Maicon at January 12, 2010 | 10:01 am | Print
Thomas Frieden—the New York City Health Commissioner most noted for banning smoking and trans fats—is now pointing his guns at salt. His goal is to gradually reduce salt levels in packaged foods and mass-produced restaurant meals, according to Grub Street New York.
High levels of sodium in the diet has been linked to health problems such as high blood pressure and stroke.
Frieden has apparently asked food producers to voluntary lower sodium levels of their products by 20 – 25% by 2014. Many fear this will go beyond voluntary compliance.
Frieden’s call for salt-reduction has caused both National Salt Institute and Center for Consumer Freedom to speak out against him. The National Restaurant Association is on the fence, while Subway and Kraft are both in favor of the commissioner’s recent call to action.
My thoughts
Why? There’s absolutely no deception happening here. Sodium levels are blatantly labeled on packaged foods and mass-produced restaurant meals are required to disclose nutritional information.
This isn’t a case of “buyer beware” but rather, “buyer doesn’t care.”
I can’t help but be skeptical as to what the commissioner’s latest crusade will lead to.
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