Six Food Cos. Commit to Cutting the Salt

NEW YORKSix major food companies have joined the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI), according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Hostess, Butterball, Snyders of Hanover, Premio, Furmanos and Delhaize America join 16 other food manufacturers in a nationwide effort to cut the salt in packaged and restaurant foods by 25% over five years. This would reduce the nations salt intake by 20%, thus reducing the number of deaths resulting from complications of high blood pressure.

Reducing salt intake has been a public health priority for decades," said Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City Health Commissioner. The national initiative that New York City spearheaded has begun the work to achieve this goal, and were pleased to see the partnership expand and grow. Thanks to these food manufacturers and the NSRIs 50-plus partners, the initiative truly has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year that otherwise would be lost to cardiovascular disease."

The six companies committed to reducting sodium in 29 of the NSRI packaged food categories. Specifically, the companies made the following commitments:

·         Butterball commits to meeting the NSRI sodium-reduction targets in deli meat and hot dogs.

·         Delhaize America will reduce sodium levels in the products it manufactures across 22 packaged-food categories, including frozen pizza, cereal and butter.

·         Furmanos will cut salt across its varieties of canned beans, baked beans and tomatoes.

·         Hostess commits to reducing salt across its entire line of bread products.

·         Premio will decrease salt in its uncooked sausages.

·         Snyders of Hanover commits to cutting the salt in its unflavored chips.