Take with a Grain of... You Know

Due to health concerns, European countries are adopting more stringent salt regulations and U.S. consumer groups are calling for the same. But last spring, the Salt Institute industry group "joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in suing the Department of Health and Human Services in federal court," alleging that "government scientists were advising Americans to eat less salt without enough evidence." When the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee considered cutting the recommended daily intake of salt from 2,400 to 1,500 milligrams, the Grocery Manufacturers of America warned there was no acceptable substitute. The committee decided on a slight decrease to 2,300 milligrams. "You could almost hear the industry exhale," said a former Cargill executive.