Doctors shake their fists at salt
The nation’s largest doctors group is pushing for new warning labels. Only these labels aren’t for drugs -- they’re for food.
The American Medical Assn. has voted to urge the government to require high-salt foods to be labeled and has vowed to push the food industry to drastically cut the amount of salt in restaurant and processed foods. The goal would be 50% less salt within a decade.
Americans eat almost twice the amount of salt they should, and that contributes to high blood pressure and heart problems, the AMA said.
Labels with pictures of salt shakers bearing the word “high” and red exclamation marks might help consumers think twice about eating high-sodium foods, suggested an AMA council report that led to the new policy.
Foods considered high in salt are those with more than 480 milligrams of sodium per serving, according to the AMA report. That includes hot dogs, some canned soups, a slice of packaged pepperoni pizza, an order of chicken chow mein and a cheeseburger, according to a food chart accompanying the council report.
On a voice vote, AMA delegates adopted the policy Tuesday at their five-day annual meeting in Chicago.
The measure also called for the AMA to ask the Food and Drug Administration to revoke salt’s status as a food that is “generally recognized as safe,” known as “GRAS” in the industry. GRAS food includes such staples as sugar and pepper.
The American Heart Assn. recommends limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams daily, or less than about 1 teaspoon, but the average daily consumption among American adults is nearly double that amount, the report said.
The AMA report said there was overwhelming evidence that eating an excessive amount of salt was a risk factor for high blood pressure and could be an independent risk factor for other cardiovascular problems.
More than 30% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease is the nation’s leading cause of death.
“Ultimately, substantial cooperation among the government, the food industry, physicians and the nutrition community will be required to accomplish meaningful change,” the report said.
The Food Products Assn., a trade group for the food and beverage manufacturing industry, said the new policy was misguided.
“Why single out salt?” asked Robert Earl, the group’s nutrition policy director. “A direct link between salt and negative cardiovascular outcomes is not as clear as some portray it to be.”
He said existing food labels listing sodium content were sufficient for consumers to make healthy choices. Salt occurs naturally in some foods and is added to others to enhance taste and preserve freshness.
The AMA has considerable clout in Washington, and an FDA spokesman said the group’s stance on salt could lead the agency to consider holding hearings on the issue.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer group, last year asked the FDA to revoke salt’s status as a safe food. Michael Jacobson, the group’s executive director, said the AMA action “adds very productively to the debate.”
Makers of processed foods, restaurants and fast-food chains are all targets of the AMA’s new policy. One of those, McDonald’s Corp., did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the policy.
In other policies adopted Tuesday, the AMA:
* Vowed to push to end alcohol ads during college sports broadcasts as part of its campaign against underage drinking.
* Pledged to encourage federal action to ban people younger than age 18 from using tanning parlors to help reduce teens’ risks for skin cancer as they age.
* Rejected a measure asking it to lobby for a tax on sugar-sweetened sodas.
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
How much sodium?
Foods containing more than 480 milligrams of sodium per serving are considered to have high levels.
Maximum sodium levels per serving in selected foods
*--* Food item Serving Size Milligrams of sodium Soy sauce 2 tsp. 2,520 Fried chicken dinners Various 2,160 Macaroni and cheese 1 meal 1,500 Pot pies 1 pie 1,180 Canned spaghetti rings 1 cup 1,070 Pepperoni pizza 1/2 pizza 1,050 Cheeseburger Various 810 Beef & cheddar taquitos 5 pcs. 800 Spaghetti 1/2 cup 770 Hot dogs 1 link 680
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Sources: American Medical Assn., Associated Press
