Salt reduction targets agreed
The Reformulation Working Group of the Rudd Government’s Food and Health Dialogue has secured the agreement of leading manufacturers and retailers to salt level reduction targets across a variety of bread and breakfast cereals.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler, said the successful negotiation of the targets was a tribute to the co-operative approach of government, health groups and industry through the Food and Health Dialogue.
Leading manufacturers George Weston Foods, Goodman Fielder Baking, Allied Mills and Cripps Nubake, as well as major retailers Woolworths, Coles and ALDI have agreed to reduce sodium (a key component of dietary salt) across bread products to 400 milligrams per 100 grams by the end of 2013.
For ready-to-eat breakfast cereals that exceed 400 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams, Kelloggs, Sanitarium, Cereal Partners Worldwide, Woolworths, Coles and ALDI have agreed to reduce the sodium content of products by 15 per cent over four years.
These manufacturers and retailers represent more than 80 per cent of the market share for bread products and about 60 per cent of the market share for ready to eat breakfast cereals.
A high salt diet can cause serious health problems with links to high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
More than three quarters of the salt intake in Australian diets comes from processed foods.
Butler said the Rudd Government appreciated the work already done by parts of industry to reduce salt levels in their products and welcomed their commitment to continue to improve the nutritional profile of Australian food.
“Agreed targets give industry a level playing field and certainty on expectations,” Butler said.
“Bread and breakfast cereals are the first of several food categories being prioritised by the Food and Health Dialogue to improve Australian diets.”
The Food and Health Dialogue brings government, public health groups and industry together to raise the nutritional value of food through reformulation, consumer education and portion standardisation.
Chaired by Butler, the Food and Health Dialogue includes nominated members from the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Heart Foundation, Woolworths, the Public Health Association and the CSIRO.
