Starbucks (SBUX.O) and Heinz (HNZ.N) were among 16 U.S. food companies pledging on Monday to cut salt levels in their products as part of a national campaign started by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The pledges are part of Bloomberg’s National Salt Reduction Initiative, a coalition of cities and health organizations that aim to reduce salt in restaurant and packaged foods by 25 percent over five years.
Starbucks will cut salt in its breakfast sandwiches, while Heinz will reduce sodium levels in its ketchup and marinades, and Boar’s Head will cut salt in all manner of cured meats, cold cuts and sausages.
Other companies involved are Au Bon Pain, FreshDirect, Goya, Hain Celestial Group (HAIN.O), Kraft (KFT.N), LiDestri, Mars Food US, McCain Foods, Red Gold Inc., Subway, Unilever (ULVR.L), Uno Chicago Grill and White Rose.
Eating too much salt is a major cause of high blood pressure, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. Salt intake has been rising since the 1970s, with Americans consuming about twice the recommended daily limit.
Elaine remember the old commercial about potatoe chips that says I bet you can’t eat just one…..well it is true, I have cut back on salt so much that I cannot eat one. instead I snack on Kashi Go Lean or almonds with out salt…..I can’t even eat Pizza any more just the taste of salt makes me feel sick, problem is I have to prepare all my own meals as I find any ready made food way to salty. or perhaps it is just my tastebuds have changed…..I know we all need some salt to get the iodine as it is the only food I know of that has it, any suggestions???????? BTW they really do put way to much salt in prepared foods even if you do eat salt.
I’m like you Mary Anne, do not like added salt at all! I don’t cook with it, use it on my food and can’t eat salty foods. This is definitely a step in the right direction food companies cutting back on added salt. I think we will see more doing the same.
It took me a couple of years to completely stop adding salt to my food. The last two items that I had the most difficult time in not adding salt to were; scrambled eggs and corn on the cob. I never did add much salt if any to the other foods I ate but these two I liked adding some salt to.