Complying with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on sodium intake could prevent up to three lakh deaths from heart disease and chronic kidney disease in India over the next ten years, according to a recent modelling study published in The Lancet Public Health.
The study highlights the significant health and economic benefits of adopting sodium reduction strategies, particularly for countries like India, where sodium consumption remains significantly above recommended levels.
Excess sodium — commonly consumed through salt — is a leading dietary risk factor for death and disability, contributing to high rates of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Packaged foods, which are major sources of sodium, are increasingly part of diets worldwide, including in India.
Yet, despite the risks, India currently lacks a national sodium reduction strategy, even as people consume more than double the WHO-recommended limit of two grams of sodium (about five grams of salt) per day.
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How much salt is permissible
The modelling study estimates that meeting WHO sodium targets could prevent 17 lakh cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, and avert seven lakh new cases of chronic kidney disease over ten years. This would result in substantial health improvements and cost savings of approximately USD 800 million, largely through a decrease in healthcare expenditures associated with managing chronic diseases.
The WHO recommends a population-wide reduction in sodium intake by 30 percent by 2025, as part of its global targets to curb non-communicable diseases. The results of this study strongly advocate for India to set national sodium benchmarks, with a particular focus on limiting sodium levels in packaged foods to address increasing consumption.
Global Examples and Current Efforts in India
Several countries, including the UK, Argentina, and South Africa, have successfully implemented sodium reduction targets by engaging with food manufacturers to reformulate products with lower sodium content. These initiatives have demonstrated that setting sodium targets can effectively reduce intake, lower disease risk, and improve public health outcomes.
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In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched the Eat Right India initiative in 2018 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This program aims to educate the public on healthy eating habits, including reducing sodium intake. However, unlike international counterparts, India has not set mandatory sodium limits for packaged foods, leaving the potential population-wide impact of such a measure unknown.
Why India Needs a Sodium Reduction Strategy
According to researchers, including those from The George Institute for Global Health in Hyderabad, the growing consumption of packaged foods and widespread overuse of salt in Indian diets make a strong case for immediate sodium reduction policies.
With non-communicable diseases on the rise, a structured approach to sodium reduction could significantly alleviate the healthcare burden and improve population health in India.
Experts believe that India can achieve impactful results by setting sodium content standards for packaged foods and encouraging food manufacturers to meet these targets. If implemented, such policies could lead to substantial health gains, potentially saving millions of lives and contributing to the country’s goals for non-communicable disease prevention.
