Support for FSA salt campaign

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

'SACN fully supports the next phase of the FSA's salt campaign. For its report on Salt and Health (2003), SACN considered a wide range of evidence from different types of studies and concluded that high salt intake raises the risk of high blood pressure, which increases the risk of premature death from cardiovascular diseases. So reducing salt intakes to 6g a day would be of major benefit to public health, but even a small reduction in salt intake could help to reduce the burden of high blood pressure in the UK population.'

Professor Sir Liam Donaldson
Chief Medical Officer

'High blood pressure is an important contributory factor to the estimated 150,000 deaths in the UK from coronary heart disease and stroke each year. As a doctor, I know how important reducing salt intakes can be in contributing to lowering an individual’s blood pressure and appreciate the value of spreading this message as widely as possible. This is why I am pleased to support the Food Standards Agency’s campaign.'

Dr Harry Burns
Chief Medical Officer for Scotland

'In Scotland, high blood pressure is a major contributory factor to deaths from coronary heart disease and strokes. As a doctor, I understand the beneficial effects that reducing salt intake can have on an individual’s blood pressure. I support the Food Standards Agency in the next phase of their campaign to reduce salt intake to improve Public Health.'

Shona Robison
Scotland's Minister for Public Health and Sport

'Reducing salt intake is an important health target for the Scottish Government as reducing salt in the diet can help save lives. We commend the reduction that has been achieved so far and the progress the food industry has made in providing lower salt options. The next phase of the Food Standards Agency’s salt campaign will provide consumers with information to help them make informed healthy choices so I welcome this campaign.'

Gwenda Thomas AM
Assistant Deputy Minister for Social Services (Wales)

'I am pleased to support the next phase of the Agency's salt campaign. Making consumers more aware of the amount of salt in their everyday diet, and making it easier for them to make healthier choices, will contribute to reducing the high number of deaths we see in Wales every year from heart disease and stroke. I welcome the reduction in salt intakes that we have seen so far from 9.5g to 8.6g a day, and the lives this has saved. This campaign, together with the continued efforts of the manufacturing, retail and catering sectors to reduce salt in a wide range of everyday foods will help maintain progress in reducing consumers' salt intakes towards the 6g intake target.'

Dr Tony Jewell
Chief Medical Officer for Wales

'Health professionals in Wales are very much aware that a diet high in salt is a significant risk factor in developing high blood pressure, which in turn is a significant risk factor in cardiovascular disease - the biggest killer of the population in Wales (36% of all deaths). I endorse the Agency's continuing partnership work with food manufacturers to reduce the salt content of our food and welcome this latest phase of the campaign which will raise consumer awareness of the 75% of our salt intake which is hidden in the everyday foods that we eat.'

See the salt campaign TV ads