According to Nation’s Restaurant News, “Four restaurants chains, including Subway and Starbucks, were among 16 companies that pledged Monday to voluntarily cut down on the amount of sodium in their products as part of a national initiative aimed at reducing salt consumption by 25 percent over the next five years.”
“The companies, which also include Au Bon Pain and Uno Chicago Grill, are the first to make the voluntary pledge through the National Salt Reduction Initiative, a public-private partnership that New York City launched earlier this year. Eighteen health organizations and 29 cities, states and municipalities are now participating in the program. ‘By working together over the past two years, we have been able to accomplish something many said was impossible: setting concrete, achievable goals for salt reduction,’ New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. ‘The National Salt Reduction Initiative has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives that otherwise would be lost to cardiovascular disease in coming years.'”
“Monday’s announcement comes as the sodium debate heats up on a national scale. Last week, the Institute of Medicine issued a report recommending federal regulation of sodium content in prepared and restaurants foods. The National Restaurant Association, however, maintains that sodium reduction should be done on a voluntary basis. (EARLIER: Talk of sodium regulation boils over) Other companies that pledged Monday to reduce sodium in their products include Boar’s Head, FreshDirect, Goya, Hain Celestial, Heinz, Kraft, LiDestri, Mars Food, McCain Foods, Red Gold, Unilever, and White Rose.”
