FDA Proposes Sodium Reduction in Foods

The FDA is set to redefine its oversight of animal food ingredients as its Memorandum of Understanding with AAFCO expires on October 1, 2024, prompting the release of draft guidances and a Request for Comments for stakeholder feedback. Simultaneously, the FDA aims to reduce sodium intake in the U.S. by about 20% by 2027, encouraging food manufacturers to lower salt levels in their products voluntarily, with a goal of bringing average daily sodium consumption down to 2,300 mg. The agency has also proposed banning brominated vegetable oil in sodas due to health risks identified in a NIH study, highlighting growing concerns over food additives. Public health experts are urging the FDA to strengthen its regulations on food additives, claiming current practices allow potentially harmful ingredients to remain in the food supply. They criticize the GRAS loophole that permits the food industry to self-regulate without adequate safety evaluations. The overall push from the FDA reflects an increasing commitment to public health and nutritional safety amid rising rates of diet-related diseases.