PUTRAJAYA MAR.14: Three million people died due to high salt intake from 11 million deaths worldwide that are linked to unhealthy diets.
Director General of Health, Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said, excessive salt intake raises blood pressure and in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and kidney disease, which are the leading causes of non -communicable disease (NCD) deaths worldwide.
Dr. Noor Hisham said, in most high-income countries as well as some low- and middle-income countries, the main source of salt intake is from ultra-processed foods such as instant noodles, chicken nuggets, burgers, hotdogs, salted fish, salted eggs, canned foods, chips and crackers. Therefore, one of the effective ways to reduce salt intake is through product reformulation to lower the salt content in the food.
“This year’s World Salt Awareness Week is celebrated on 14 to 20 March 2022 with the theme Tak Masin Tu Ok! (Not Salty is Ok!). Among the main target groups are among the food industry by providing education and continuous cooperation to ensure that they are committed in reformulating food and beverage products so that the salt content can be reduced,” Dr. Noor Hisham said in his Facebook post today.
Dr. Noor Hisham added, in addition, the food industry is reminded to comply with the Food Act, 1983 amendment 2020 which requires the labelling of salt content on food and beverage products.
He said, based on the results of a survey of supermarkets in Malaysia in 2017, only half of food products show a salt content label on nutritional information. Nutrition labelling can help consumers understand the nutritional content of a food or beverage product, and indirectly encourage people to buy foods that are healthier and fit their needs. –Malaysia World News
