U.S. groups call for government regulations on salt

CBC News ^ | 11.29.07

[najida]

It’s not about naturally occuring salt but the salt used in processed foods etc. IOW, the salt added to foods usually to cover off flavors and odors, or make less than palatable foods more so.

The issue is, some folks don’t have the kidneys or vasuclar system to handle the abnormal glut added to the western diet.

But hell,
waddaino.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Or they could do it this way. How about let people be responsible for their own health, educating themselves on what is good for them or not good for them, and then deciding accordingly? I like salt. I don’t have an issue with high blood pressure, but I am at the age when that could start becoming a problem, so I have tended to use less salt. Like most of us, I can read, and I read the nutritional information on the packages. I am often astounded by how much salt is in some products. I don’t buy or consume those products. Simple. Those who follow that route might contribute to the improvement of their own health and reduce the disease and mortality rates, and those who don’t — well, they’ve helped to thin the herd.

[Paperdoll]

WOW! And from a “government” that isn’t worth it’s salt, too! :) Next thing they will regulate sugar. America, where did you go?

[absolootezer0]

you know what my problem with it is. forced regulation.
heck, i don’t particularly like salt personally.. but i’ll fight for everyone else’s right to have as much of it as they want :)

[Paperdoll]

Is this all a part of the Socialist Healthy People 2010 who is sponsoring Mike Huckabee - the one which will take us to global health care?

[tacticalogic]

Apparently people putting salt on their food is having a “substantial effect on commerce amnong the several states”.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Wadda you expect from Uncle Sugar?

[jveritas]

Health and pocket. The AMA is heavily advertising for socialized medicine. They want the government to tax us to death and the idiot believe that doctors can still make 300,000 dollars a year in a socialized medicine system!!! Let them take a look at the miserable salaries payed for doctors in Canada and Europe and the very bad quality of heathcare in these socialized medical systems so they learn that it is very bad for them and us to have a socialized medicine.

[Esther Ruth]

I can see it now at resturants - the waiters will have to watch the customers salt shaker use and if they use to much the salt will be removed from the table. Or maybe they will just remove it completely and you will have to request salt (in triplicate form and notarized) and it will be decided by a special committee at each restaurant whether or not salt will be allowed on an individual basis. Some may become violent when they are refused salt. Shrinks/doctors will call this new syndrome Reduced Salt Aggression Disorder (R-SAD). Public Schools will use up at least one third of the school year in 08/09 educating the young sheep on the dangers of salt. Kids around the country will start wearing T-shirts that say Salt Free since .....

[4yearlurker]

And eating the banana,thus disarming the perpetrator.

[absolootezer0]

but if they ban it in restaurants.. what will i use to keep my customers’ beer mugs from sticking to those stupid napkins?

[Dead Corpse]

It's those in control of such an evil system that would benefit most. Those under them are just a means to an end.

Things are really starting to spiral out of control with our FedGov. Somethings gotta give or people are going to start getting hurt over stuff like this.

[Red Badger]

This satire, right?.................right?..............uh....

[bamahead]

The ‘Center for Science in the Public Interest’ is a left wing group of anti-food hacks who call themselves doctors. Their true love is to go after restaurant chains, and fast-food with frivolous lawsuits. Now they are going after condiments. It’s scary that the AMA is now apparently in bed with these people.

[najida]

I have no problem with it either,
I see it as a food safety issue.

IOW, if you buy a can of beans, you expect them NOT to make you sick. They don’t have botulism or salmonella, no bug or rat parts.

Salt is an additive to foods, usually as a preservative or as a flavor enhancer. Again, no issue with that.

The issue is when the amount used becomes excessive in some food items when the need for perservation is moot.

You could argue the same for sodium’s sister electrolyte potassium, food processors should be able to put as much as they want in a food item.

But excess potassium is pretty deadly pretty quick. Excess sodium can be deadly for some much slower.

So again, I’m viewing this as an excessive unneccessary electrolyte being added to food that can harm some individuals health.

Food safety, that’s all.

[bamahead]

Kevin Willis, a bio-chemist with the Canadian Stroke Network, says about 30 Canadians die every day as a result of too much salt.

No, these 30 folks die per day because they are probably waiting to see a doctor to follow up on a pre-existing blood pressure or circulatory condition in your abysmal Government monopolized health system, Kev.

[AmericaUnited]

The problem is the chemical “sodium cloride”, not real salt. Real salt is 85% soldium cloride and the reamining 15% is various minerals that the body NEEDS to properly use/dispose of the sodium cloride. The majority of salt today is 99% sodium cloride. The minerals get stripped out and sold.

[murdoog]

well, they’ve helped to thin the herd.

Not to mention reducing social security outlays!

[rockinqsranch]

I’ll agree with the French cut green beans, but how about GACK! Okra instead of Asparagus?

[NonValueAdded]

The labeling requirement is pretty clear ... anybody who cares can pick and choose, letting the market apply the pressure, not the gubermint or an interested NGO like the AMA. That is more than enough nannying, thank you very much. Besides, now that the AMA has taken this stand, I predict that within 3 years there will be a study saying that a higher salt intake turns out to be good for you. Coffee bad, coffee good; eggs bad, eggs OK; no booze, red wine good; aspirin bad, aspirin good ... and then there are prescription drugs as the good, whoops very bad cases.