UK salt reduction program could save £1.64B, say researchers

22 Feb 2021 --- The UK’s national salt reduction program could prevent almost 200,000 cases of heart disease and save £1.64 billion (US$2.3 billion) in healthcare costs if better enforced by 2050, according to research by Queen Mary University London.

The study authors are calling on the UK government and food industry to extend commitments to salt reduction, which, despite initial success, have so far failed to meet intended targets.

The study analyzed data relating to a voluntary salt reduction scheme’s health and economic impacts. The scheme was launched voluntarily by policymakers and industry stakeholders between 2003 and 2018. 

Saving life and money 
The findings, now published in Hypertension, show that the 2003 to 2018 salt reduction program in England achieved an overall salt intake reduction of 1 g per day per adult, based on the change from 9.38 g per day in 2000 to 8.38 g per day in 2018.

If 2018 salt intake levels were maintained until 2050, the program would lead  to 193,870 fewer adults developing premature cardiovascular disease, based on levels recorded in 2000. 

World Health Organization (WHO) member states have agreed to reduce the global population’s intake of salt by a relative 30 percent by 2025.This comprises 83,140 cases of premature ischemic heart disease and 110,730 premature strokes.

The associated health care costs saved on treating these issues would be £1.64 billion (US$2.3 billion) for the adult population of England. 

Lead researcher Borislava Mihaylova says the progress made throughout initial reduction efforts could fall back unless the UK government reinforces pressure. 

“These gains could be seriously endangered if the policy is weakened. The stalling of salt reduction efforts in the past few years is now eating away at the potential population health gains and is costing our health service dearly.”

“Over the last few years, quantities of salt in diets have remained steady at levels much higher than recommended. If we can reduce our salt intake to the recommended 5 g per day, we will double health benefits and healthcare savings by the year 2050,” she asserts. 

UK salt reduction efforts
The reduction scheme resulted from pressure mounted by the nongovernmental organization Consensus Action on Salt and Health, which since 1996 had been advocating action on public salt intake by presenting scientific evidence to the government.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) then established reduction targets between 2003 and 2010, which led to a 15 percent reduction in average salt intake in the country by 2011. 

Reducing salt intake has been identified as one of the most cost-effective measures countries can take to improve population health outcomes, says the WHO.Food producers achieved this reduction since no noticeable taste difference occurred after reformulating products with less salt. 

Based on this success, a target of an average of 3 g of salt per day was set for 2025. However, by 2018, a lack of political commitment was found to have led to an increase in salt intake in women while no progress was reported in men. 

Researchers, therefore, decided to model the effect of the reduction program if appropriately implemented and furthered by 2030 to pressure policymakers into making good on the original commitments. 

Plan to get back on track 
The researchers are calling for a three-pronged approach to move food producers back in the right direction. 

Firstly, the government must strictly enforce the salt reduction targets, for example, through legislation or financial penalties on food companies failing to comply.

Second, it should set  more stringent salt targets to reduce further the average amount consumed daily.

Lastly, the government is called on to extend salt targets to the out-of-home sector, “which remain lenient and lack the proper monitoring mechanisms.”

The success found in early reduction efforts must be capitalized on immediately, emphasizes Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University London and chairman of Action on Salt.

“It’s now time for Downing Street to take decisive measures in forcing the food industry to comply. If not, many more thousands of people will suffer unnecessary strokes and heart attacks.”

Edited

By Louis Gore-Langton