NEW YORK Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
The FDA denied this week numerous reports that had claimed the agency was set to impose a 10-year, phased-in plan to limit the amount of salt in prepared foods.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“The FDA is not currently working on regulations nor have they made a decision to regulate sodium content in foods at this time,” the agency said in a statement.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
The FDA did confirm that it was reviewing a report issued Tuesday by the Institute of Medicine that had recommended regulation surrounding the reduction of sodium in prepared foods for the betterment of consumer health. The federal agency said it would review the report and then determine how it could work with other federal agencies, public health advocates, community groups and the food industry to achieve a goal of reduced sodium intake among consumers.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“Success in reducing sodium intake will require coordinated national action, with participation of all,” the FDA said. “We are encouraged by the fact that some food manufacturers have already begun or announced their commitment to reduce sodium levels in their products.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
The National Restaurant Association also weighed in, saying in a statement that while the restaurant industry is committed to providing healthful dining options for its customers, reducing the amount of sodium in food should be done on a voluntary basis.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“We appreciate the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations to take an incremental approach to decreasing sodium in the nation’s food supply and are committed to working with our members [and] partners throughout the supply chain and the FDA to address this important issue,” said Scott DeFife, the NRA’s executive vice president of policy and government affairs. “We agree with the IOM’s focus on consumer acceptance, and the acknowledgement that gradual change is essential to success is welcome.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
However, he added, “The industry supports a voluntary, incremental approach to reducing sodium levels in menu items, and would have concerns about any potential government mandate that creates a one-size-fits-all rule to ingredient standards or sets arbitrary per-item limits that do not reflect the complexity of addressing the nation’s eating habits and improving overall wellness. Without customer acceptance, there will be no measurable change in consumer behavior.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
At a press conference held Tuesday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, in Washington, D.C., Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., applauded the IOM’s report, which they called “groundbreaking.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Harkin, chairman of the Senate’s Labor, Health and Human Services and Education committee, said the report, commissioned by the committee in 2008, concluded that reducing sodium content in food would require new government standards in order for an acceptable level to be met. The report further suggested that the reduction take place over a longer period of time so that consumers could make the change without noticing a difference as they adjust to lower levels of sodium in their foods.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Both Harkin and DeLauro expressed satisfaction with the IOM’s findings and the prospect of the FDA, or other agencies, regulating sodium content.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“We on the appropriations committee asked the IOM two years ago to do the study and we put the money in there for them to do it,” Sen. Harkin said. “This is really going to start moving us in the direction we want to go, which is prevention. It’s going to add a lot of weight to what we’re trying to do. You know, it’s easy to be unhealthy and hard to be healthy. We have to reverse that.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Harkin said a reduction of sodium content could save hundreds of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care costs.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“This intervention will save a lot of money in the future,” he said. “By reducing intake nationwide, we can prevent 100,000 deaths annually and save $18 billion alone.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Rep. DeLauro said she hoped the sodium reduction process would not take too long to implement.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“Frankly, I don’t want to see it take 10 years,” she said, referring to reports that the FDA was looking at a multi-year plan. “I would like to see it happen more quickly. Now that we have this report we can make some judgments about how we ought to move as quickly as we can.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the CSPI, which has lobbied against trans fats and for menu labeling throughout the restaurant industry, said that the food industry would need regulating in order to successfully reduce the public’s daily sodium intake.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“The industry has to have regulations put on it,” he said. “Voluntary action doesn’t work.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Jacobson said the restaurant industry must begin to reduce the levels of sodium in its meals, and at the very least begin to offer more substantial information and warnings about how much salt is in each menu item.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
DeLauro agreed.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
“The food industry has taken some steps on its own and we applaud them for it, but they’re not adequate enough to stop the problem,” she said. “This is not going to be fixed by throwing out saltshakers. This needs to be fixed through regulation.”Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
She added there would be opportunities to reduce sodium in school lunches when the government begins renegotiating contracts for the School Lunch Program this year.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
The standard amount of sodium advised for adults is about 2,300 milligrams per day, but the IOM recommends a total of 1,500 milligrams daily. Average consumption reportedly is 3,500 milligrams, according to New York City’s Department of Health. Medical experts say increased salt intake can cause hypertension, high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Earlier this year, New York City’s Department of Health implemented a voluntary plan to reduce sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods by 25 percent over the next five years. The agency has been working on the plan, which follows the model already in place in the United Kingdom, for more than a year.Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Contact Elissa Elan at [email protected]. Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.
Discussion surrounding the possible federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurant foods boiled over this week as members of Congress, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, various health advocacy groups and the National Restaurant Association weighed in on the matter, which many have labeled the next food battleground.