Sodium
Useful Links:
- What other countries are doing
- Timeline for sodium reductions (chart)
- Why sodium is used in food
- What the government is doing
- Sodium 101 (PowerPoint)
For many years, Canadian food and beverage manufacturers have been steadily and voluntarily reducing the amount of sodium in the food we eat – through product reformulation and developing new products – in order to provide a variety of healthier-for-you products.
And they are absolutely committed to doing more. Companies want to do their part to help Canadians eat less sodium by gradually and responsibly reducing sodium levels in the food Canadians enjoy.
But it's not an easy process and product reformulation alone is not enough. To start, sodium reduction is a very complex undertaking that will require time and flexibility from everyone. A key reason for this is that sodium plays a multitude of roles in different food products. In addition to improving taste, it plays a part in preservation and in food safety.
Health Canada's proposed targets are among the most aggressive in the world, and will require further reducing sodium levels by a third by 2016.
We will only achieve success if everyone does their part. Canadians will need to be a part of the solution with companies and government – living a balanced lifestyle and making more informed nutrition choices – at home, in the grocery store and at restaurants.