Changes in sodium levels of processed foods among the International Food and Beverage Association member companies in Australia: 2013–2017

Abstract

Excess dietary sodium is a modifiable cause of high blood pressure. The World Health Organization has targeted a 30% reduction in mean population sodium consumption by 2025.In 2008, members of the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) made commitments to lower sodium content in their products. The aim of this study was to determine the difference in sodium levels between 2013 and 2017 in foods and beverages produced by companies that are IFBA members (n=10) and non-IFBA members (n=6) that were included in the 2018 Global Access to Nutrition Index operating in Australia. Independent Samples T tests and Mann Whitney U tests were used to test the differences in sodium levels. There was no clear difference in sodium content between 2013 and 2017 detectable for the IFBA members (mean difference 17mg/100g, 95% confidence interval (CI), -82 to +48; p=0.612; median difference 27mg/100g, p=0.582). For the non-IFBA companies there was a decrease in median sodium content (-30mg/100g; P=0.002) but not mean sodium content (-52mg/100g, 95% CI -106 to +3; p=0.064). IFBA commitments to reduce the sodium content of foods appear to have had slow progress in Australia. Stronger implementation and monitoring programs are needed to drive industry action.

The Nutritional Profile and On-Pack Marketing of Toddler-Specific Food Products Launched in Australia between 1996 and 2020

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“…PubMed: In accordance with our study question, we established a search equation that was used in the different databases and in the following steps: intake, particularly in low-and middle-income countries where the risk of death from high blood pressure is higher, more than double that in high-income countries [66]. Likewise, the WHO encourages the use of tools such as SHAKE to technically assist countries in their fight [67,68].…”

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Population-based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Measures Aimed at Reducing Salt Intake: Analysis of International Strategies and Prospects for Implementation in the Russian Federation

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