A World Health Organization (WHO) study reveals that if India adopts WHO-recommended sodium intake levels, it could prevent 3 lakh deaths from heart disease and chronic kidney disease over the next decade. Sodium, primarily consumed through salt, is a significant dietary risk linked to high mortality rates. In India, daily sodium intake is almost double the recommended amount, and packaged foods are contributing increasingly to this problem.
The WHO recommends less than 2 grams of sodium per day, equivalent to under a teaspoon of salt. However, without a national sodium reduction strategy, India faces a growing health crisis. Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health, Hyderabad, emphasize that India should mandate sodium benchmarks, especially as more people turn to packaged foods.
The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, shows that aligning with WHO standards could prevent 17 lakh cardiovascular events (heart attacks and strokes), avert 7 lakh new chronic kidney disease cases, and save around $800 million in healthcare costs over ten years. Several countries, including the UK, Argentina, and South Africa, have effectively reduced sodium intake by working with food manufacturers to reformulate products.
While India has initiatives like ‘Eat Right India’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a specific national policy targeting sodium in packaged foods is still needed. WHO’s target aims to cut sodium intake by 30% by 2025, underscoring the importance of prioritizing this public health goal to improve quality of life and reduce healthcare expenses in India.
