FDA sets goals to help people eat less salt

Food companies are coming under renewed pressure to use less salt after U.S. regulators spelled out long-awaited guidelines aimed at reducing sodium levels in dozens of foods including condiments, cereals, French fries and potato chips.

The voluntary goals finalized on Wednesday for 163 food categories are intended to help lower the amount of salt people eat.  A majority of the sodium in U.S. diets comes from packaged or restaurant foods. Over the next 2.5 years, the FDA’s target sodium levels aim to cut average intake from 3,400 to 3,000 milligrams a day.