England ‘s salt reduction program will result in 200,000 fewer adults developing heart disease by 2050

England’s salt reduction program between 2003 and 2018 achieved salt consumption of the average English adult by 15 per cent, a new study has found.

Data shows that 8.38 grams of salt is now consumed per day, down from 9.38 grams in 2000.

If these salt levels are maintained, by 2050 the program would have resulted in 193,870 fewer adults developing premature cardiovascular disease, and £ 1.64 billion in health care cost savings for the English adult population.

However, the NHS says adults should eat no more than six grams a day, and the World Health Organization says a limit of just five grams a day should be limited.

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Researchers from Queen Mary University of London studied the effectiveness of banning salt in foods sold in England under the auspices of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) between 2003 and 2011.

The study collected population survey data on salt intake between 2000 and 2018 and used this to predict the long-term impact on health.

The FSA’s program sought to reduce the amount of salt in the public’s diet by working with food companies.

Researchers say the main driving force behind the reduction of one gram per day in dietary salt is food companies renewing their products after pressure from the UK Government.

One teaspoon of salt weighs about six grams and a pack of classic Walkers grapes and grapes contains 0.52 grams of salt shakes.

The NHS says adults should limit themselves to just six grams a day of salt, which is significantly less for children.

But the World Health Organization recommends that salt intake should be reduced even further, down to just five grams per day – a 40 percent drop on normal levels – by 2030.

If this five-gram level is met, the latest study says 213,880 other cases of premature cardiovascular disease would be prevented.

The benefits of slowing down salt go far beyond reducing cases of heart disease, as it would also reduce the financial burden on the NHS.

Researchers estimate that current minimum salt levels will save the NHS £ 1.64 billion in healthcare costs.

If England meets the WHO target of five grams per day by 2030, this will increase to £ 6.97billion.

To scale, this would be about half of what the NHS was identifying for the country ‘s mental health services in 2020/2021.

But despite the positive move toward cutting salt, the researchers warn that there was a platform of salt reduction programs.

Professor Borislava Mihaylova, lead researcher of the study published today in Hypertension, says: ‘Our results are remarkable because of the significant health benefits we see with effective policy the government on reducing salt in everyday food products.

These benefits could be seriously jeopardized if the policy is weakened. Stopping salt reduction efforts in the last few years is now eating away at the potential population health benefits and is costing our health service dearly.

‘Over the last few years, dietary salt levels have remained stable at much higher levels than suggested.

‘If we can reduce the amount of salt we reduce to 5g a day, we will double health benefits and healthcare savings by the year 2050.’

Professor Graham MacGregor, co-author of the study and chair of ‘Action on Salt’, says: ‘This study demonstrates the significant health benefits and cost-effectiveness of the gradual reduction in uptake. salt imports in the UK occurred between 2003-2011.

‘Since then, the food industry has stopped reducing the amount of salt they add to our food (80 per cent of our intake) largely due to the lack of government action. .

Now is the time for Downing Street to take decisive action to make the food industry more compliant. If not, many thousands more will suffer unnecessary strokes and heart attacks. ‘