Not forcing food firms to cut salt ‘has killed 1,300’
THOUSANDS of people have suffered avoidable heart attacks and strokes because of a failed government strategy to cut salt in food, experts said last night.
Almost 10,000 cases of heart disease and strokes, and 1,500 of stomach cancer – resulting in 1,320 deaths – are linked to a government move which handed the food industry responsibility for reducing salt content, rather then enforcing a strategy on them.
The voluntary pact – launched in 2011 – halted significant progress on the reduction of salt in food. At the time, it was labelled a ‘disaster for public health’.
And now, in a major study of the impact, experts say hundreds of people have died unnecessarily from diseases linked to salt intake in the seven years since.
The damning report, published yesterday, blamed the ‘responsibility deal’ strategy for 9,900 cases of heart disease and strokes and a further 1,500 cases of stomach cancer between 2011 to 2018.
The British Medical Journal said that by 2025 there will be an extra 26,000 cases of heart disease and strokes, and a further 3,800 cases of stomach cancer linked to salt intake. It will also cost the economy an estimated £1 billion in NHS and productivity costs. High salt intake can lead to raised blood pressure, which causes heart disease and stroke. It is also linked to stomach cancer.
Experts said thousands more people will die unless the Government urgently introduces mandatory rules to restrict salt content – such as higher taxes on salty foods and a ban on adding salt to baby food.
One of the study authors, Professor Simon Capewell, from the University of Liverpool, said: ‘The policy messages from this dietary salt reduction analysis could not be clearer. The UK Government has a stark choice – either continue its laissez-faire approach which will kill or maim thousands more people, or reactivate the successful Food Standards Agency (FSA) approach, which would prevent thousands of deaths and powerfully assist the NHS and UK economy.’ The team, from Imperial College London, Liverpool University and the University of Stirling, analysed the impact of the responsibility deal introduced in 2011.
They found the deal resulted in a slowdown in the reduction of salt in people’s diets, leading to an extra 710 deaths from heart disease or strokes, and an extra 610 deaths from stomach cancer.
Graham MacGregor, chairman for Action on Salt, said: ‘The responsibility deal was a disaster for public health.
‘It is now up to the health minister, Public Health England and the Government to set up a coherent strategy where the food industry is instructed what to do, rather than the food industry telling the Government what to do.’
He added: ‘The UK currently has no active salt reduction strategy, which is appalling.’
Tracy Parker, of the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘There is a wealth of evidence that links a high salt consumption to raised blood pressure, a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.’
The recommended maximum is 6g of salt per day. In 2000-01, the average daily intake was 10.5g for men and 8g for women in England. Between 2003 and 2010, average annual intake fell by 0.2g among men and by 0.12g among women.
But between 2011 and 2014, annual reductions in dietary salt intake slowed to 0.11g among men and to 0.07 g among women.
Tim Rycroft, of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), said: ‘FDF members have led the way in voluntarily reducing salt in food. Compared to four years ago, FDF member products contribute 14 per cent less salt to the average shopping basket.’
The Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘We are committed to people living longer, healthier lives, and our progress on salt reduction is world leading.’
‘A disaster for public health’