ACTION ALERT: Keep FDA from meddling with the salt in our foods!
The FDA is laying the groundwork for extensive restrictions on salt. This threatens your health and your access to foods traditionally prepared with salt, such as cheese and fermented vegetables.
The agency is seeking public comments on a document entitled “Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption.” This title indicates that they have already decided that sodium consumption should be reduced and all that’s left are the regulations as to how.
We need your help to fight back! The FDA needs to hear that Americans disagree with the government becoming involved in regulating salt consumption.
You can submit comments online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FDA-2011-N-0400-0038
The government’s online system can be difficult to navigate and there is a time limit. We encourage you to write your comments and save them in a document on your computer, then copy and paste them into the online comment form. Also, although only some of the information fields are marked as being “required,” some people have experienced problems when they left fields blank. So for the fields that are not required, you may wish to put “NA” (not applicable) in them to avoid potential problems. For the “Category” field, use “individual consumer” if no other title describes you.
You can also mail your comments to: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments must include the agency name (FDA) and the docket number (FDA-2011-N-0400).
DEADLINE: Friday, January 27, 2012
SAMPLE COMMENTS: *** please personalize your comments to have the most impact ***
I urge the FDA not to become involved in regulating or even recommending the level of salt in food.
The science shows that reducing salt will not make most people healthier. The level of salt consumption in the U.S. has remained stable for the last 50 years according to a recent Harvard study, yet the rate of obesity and hypertension has increased. Studies show that restricting salt helps a minority of the general population reduce their blood pressure, while either increasing blood pressure or having no effect on the majority of people’s blood pressure.
Moreover, reducing salt consumption could cause health problems for many people. Studies have shown that low sodium levels can increase insulin resistance (a precursor to Type 2 diabetes), lead to babies with low birth weights, and decrease in cognitive abilities in the elderly.
Salt is an essential nutrient, and the science does not support the theory that salt reductions will improve Americans’ health. The FDA should halt this process immediately.
Sincerely,
Name
NOTE: The comment box only allows for 2,000 characters (the sample comments above are about 1,000 characters). If you want to write longer comments, you should save them in a .doc or .pdf file to upload as an attachment.
MORE INFORMATION:
Read the FDA’s document at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2011-N-0400-0038
Read the July 2011 article from Wise Traditions about the importance of salt to your health: http://www.westonaprice.org/vitamins-and-minerals/the-salt-of-the-earth
