Global food brands in Canada have much more salt

[Toby Fourre]

Many of the prepared foods and meals in Canada are eaten around the world too, but with one significant difference: the Canadian ones contain much higher levels of salt.

New research published today by World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) shows that a large number of food items sold in Canada contain significantly more sodium than the very same products sold in other countries -- in some cases more than twice the daily maximum limit for an adult in a single meal.

<snip>
Kellogg's All Bran, for instance, contains 0.65g of salt per 100g in the United States, and about 1.13g of salt per 100g in the United Kingdom. But in Canada, it contains 2.15g of salt per 100g in Canada.

CTV.ca News Staff

Yikes. Whatever they can get away with.

[Canadian]

Yup.

Why do3es the public put up with that? Why does 'All Bran' need much more salt in Canada for? Why isn't the government doing anything?

[Gen]

which might explain why the country has such high rates of high blood pressure, a major risk
factor for heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease.

the results are out and it a fact, Canada needs to make changes,
need more be said?

[eriatilos]

The attitude of all right wing governments is: do not hamper any business with rules and regulations. Profit is what counts, don't slow it down.
The extra salt makes customers eat more and drink more.

[Canadian]

Cut sodium intake in half, Canadians advised

Canadians should consume only half the sodium they're now taking in from salted foods and drinks, according to new federal guidelines released Thursday.

This could "save thousands of lives over the coming years," says Dr. Mary L'Abbé, vice-chair of a federal working group that released the guidelines Thursday in Ottawa.

Canadians currently consume about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day. The guidelines aim to reduce that to 2,400 mg by 2016.

For adults, 1,500 mg of sodium per day is considered an adequate intake, and 2,300 mg is the upper limit.

And yet our food has more salt than the exact same food sold elsewhere...They should force manufacturers to reduce salt or tax it to death. Hell threaten to nationalise any company that does not and actually do it to a couple to set an example if they refuse.

But there will be a fast/junk food tax next, mark my words to pay for healthcare.

Read the rest here

[Swiss Miss]

I do the grocery shopping in our house and I look at how much salt is in things. That being said I do try not to buy prepackaged foods as it bothers me that I can pronounce some of the ingredients that I'll be eating. I'd rather know what is in my food vs not know.

[elkouri]

feel as you do Swiss Miss.
we can buy the no salt cans also.
seems reasonable to me
that way, we can then add what we wish.
kayrose