Page 32 - The European Baking Ingredients Market Report 2022 - Volume 1

32 European Baking Ingredients Market Report 2022
INGREDIENTS
REDUCING EUROPE’S SALT INTAKE

benefit public health if measures countries, was established to and well in excess of recommended
to reduce salt intake were targeted promote salt reduction action in the levels. In response to this, the
at the food industry. Consumers region. 11 WHO published ‘Accelerating Salt
can only do so much to reduce Reduction in Europe: A Country
their own salt intake when the 2008: EU Member States agreed Support Package to Reduce
everyday staple foods they buy to the creation of a common Population Salt Intake in the WHO
and eat already contain unhealthy Framework on voluntary salt European Region’. 5
levels of salt, inherent in the food reduction initiatives, with the
manufacturing process. aim of employing a consistent Are all countries taking the same
approach to reducing salt levels approach to salt reduction?
How is Europe tackling its salt in all processed foods, including Across the region, three in four
intake? those consumed in restaurants and European countries/territories have
Due to the health gains from catering, by 14% by 2012. Priority a national salt reduction initiative
reducing salt intake across the products to target included bread, – with an additional five countries
population and the relatively low ready meals, meat products and in the planning stage. The most
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cost, the WHO recommends salt cheeses. popular initiatives are interventions
6
reduction as a ‘best-buy’ public in settings such as schools and
health policy . The WHO Europe 2020: By this time, many European hospitals, food reformulation and
10
Office have issued several initiatives countries had initiated national salt front-of-pack labelling. Consumer
to guide salt reduction in the reduction programmes including education programmes and even
region, including: public awareness campaigns, salt taxes are also sometimes used.
reformulation of packaged foods
2007: WHO Action Network on to reduce their salt content and Targeting Interventions
Salt Reduction in the Population front-of-pack nutrition labelling. Interventions in specific settings
in the European Region, led by However, despite these efforts, salt with the aim of reducing salt intake
Switzerland and involving 23 intakes across Europe remain high are used by 64% of European

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