FDA proposes rule to allow salt substitutes in standardized foods

Key takeaways:

• The FDA’s proposed rule aims to reduce sodium intake among Americans.
• The proposed changes could affect standardized foods such as milk, breads, cheeses and ketchup.

The FDA has proposed a rule that would allow the use of “safe and suitable salt substitutes” in standardized foods, providing manufacturers with greater flexibility for reducing sodium content.

According to the agency, standardized foods are those with “standards of identity” (SOI), which list the required and optional ingredients of certain foods. SOIs may also describe the proportion of ingredients and “prescribe a method of production or formulation,” according to the FDA.

There are more than 250 SOIs, and most do not currently permit the use of salt substitutes, according to the FDA. Examples of foods with SOIs include milk, milk chocolate, breads, cheeses and ketchup.

The proposed rule would affect the 80 SOIs that include salt. Because these SOIs are referenced by other SOIs, 140 SOIs would be affected overall.

The proposed rule does not list permitted salt substitutes, and the amount of salt that can be changed depends on how effectively substitutions can replace the functions of salt in food without affecting the food’s safety and characteristics, the FDA said in a release.

If implemented, the rule could help food producers meet short-term voluntary sodium reduction goals that the FDA issued in October 2021. These goals aim to reduce the average sodium intake of Americans from 3,400 mg to 3,000 mg per day, a 12% decrease.

“Most people in the U.S. consume too much sodium. The majority of sodium consumed comes from processed, packaged and prepared foods, not from salt people add to their food when cooking or eating,” Susan Mayne, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in the release. “This effort, combined with the FDA’s voluntary sodium reduction targets, is part of the agency’s overall nutrition strategy to create a healthier food supply, provide consumers with information to choose healthier foods and improve the health and wellness of our nation.”

The public can comment on the proposed rule for 120 days following its publication in the Federal Register.

References:

• FDA takes additional steps to improve nutrition, reduce disease with expanded use of salt substitutes to help lower sodium intake. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-additional-steps-improve-nutrition-reduce-disease-expanded-use-salt-substitutes-help-lower. Published March 24, 2023. Accessed March 24, 2023.
• Guidance for industry: Voluntary sodium reduction goals. https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-voluntary-sodium-reduction-goals. Accessed March 24, 2023.
• Sodium reduction. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/sodium-reduction. Accessed March 24, 2023.
• Standards of identity for food. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/standards-identity-food. Accessed March 24, 2023.