Pass the Salt, But Not the High-Salt Products
The American Medical Association wants to urge the government to impose warning labels on over-salted food, according to this item at the Organic Consumers Association. The doctors argue that America eats more than twice as much salt as it should, because salt contributes to high blood pressure and heart problems. They’ve even suggested some graphics: A little red salt shaker labeled with “High” or an exclamation point.
In addition to the new icons, the group wants the FDA to remove salt from the list of foods “generally regarded as safe,” which also includes pepper and sugar. Fans of high-salt Thomas Keller recipes can rest easy, however; the new labelling laws would only apply to packaged food.
I’m all for giving consumers information that allows them to make informed decisions, but doesn’t a high-sodium diet only affect people who already have high blood pressure? Salt has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the last few years as authors like Jeffrey Steingarten have argued against the mass panic about salt. And I’ll bet most of the affected population already check sodium levels in the food they buy.
