A recent modeling study by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that reducing sodium intake to WHO-recommended levels could prevent around 300,000 deaths due to heart disease and chronic kidney disease in India over the next decade. Excessive sodium consumption is recognized as a major dietary risk factor contributing to premature death and disability, with sodium primarily being consumed through salt. Packaged foods, particularly in high-income countries, are a significant source of sodium intake, and they are increasingly contributing to sodium levels in low- and middle-income countries like India.

Despite growing evidence of sodium’s harmful effects, India has yet to adopt a national strategy for reducing sodium intake. Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health in Hyderabad highlighted the significant health benefits and cost savings that could result from enforcing a sodium reduction strategy in India, where people typically consume twice the WHO-recommended intake. Published in The Lancet Public Health, the study projected substantial gains if compliance with sodium limits is achieved over a ten-year period. These gains could include a reduction of up to 1.7 million cardiovascular events, such as strokes and heart attacks, and approximately 700,000 new chronic kidney disease cases, along with cost savings of about $800 million.

WHO advises a maximum daily sodium intake of 2 grams, equating to less than 5 grams (or one teaspoon) of salt. As part of its efforts to combat non-communicable diseases, WHO has set a target for reducing global sodium intake by 30% by 2025. India is among the countries where sodium intake remains significantly high, driven largely by packaged food consumption. Countries like the UK, Argentina, and South Africa have successfully introduced sodium benchmarks for packaged foods and engaged with food manufacturers to meet these targets, effectively reducing sodium intake in their populations. The study's authors argue that India should implement similar sodium benchmarks to curb excessive intake nationwide.

India currently lacks a comprehensive sodium reduction initiative, though the "Eat Right India" campaign launched in 2018 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is focused on promoting healthier eating habits. This campaign emphasizes the importance of reducing sodium intake but stops short of mandating specific sodium targets for packaged foods. Experts believe that introducing mandatory sodium limits could be a powerful public health strategy, potentially preventing tens of thousands of deaths and reducing healthcare costs in India.

Although the country has limited interventions specifically aimed at sodium reduction, modeling studies like this one reveal the substantial health benefits of lowering sodium intake. The WHO’s global targets and the successes of other countries offer valuable insights for India. WHO’s recommendation that countries adopt sodium benchmarks for packaged foods can significantly improve public health outcomes. As people in India increasingly turn to packaged foods, adopting these targets could prove transformative.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)