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High sodium intake has long been linked to high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. More than 4 in 10 American adults suffer from high blood pressure, according to the agency.
Salt is a ubiquitous ingredient in almost all foods. But the agency focused on 163 categories of processed, packaged, and prepared foods, including different types of cheese, pickles, nuts, sauces, cold cuts, crackers, and poultry – all things Americans love to eat. Even more so during the pandemic.
However, some health experts said the regulator should take a firmer stance.
“The FDA’s goals represent an important step forward, but reducing sodium intake to 3,000 mg per day is not enough,” the American Heart Association said in a statement.