The French fell slightly salt intake

The French seem to have taken into account the advice of the French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA) advocating a reduction in salt intake, according to a study showing a slight decline in purchases of table salt from the debate "salt and health "was introduced in 2000.

Reduce salt intake

Jean-Luc Volatier and Alexandra Tard, researchers at the Observatory of food consumption at AFSSA, presented at the International Exhibition of Agriculture, the results of a study of changes in the consumption of salt since the publication of a first opinion of the AFSSA June 13, 2000.

This review was followed a year after recommendations to reduce by 20% in five years the consumption of salt (and pass 9-10 g / day 7-8 g / d) and a proportion equivalent number of large consumers (> 12 g / d).

Salt intake comes for a small share of table salt (1-2 g / day), but mostly food (bread, meat, cheese, soups, pizzas ...), said Jean-Luc Volatier. To reduce consumption, so it should "play on all axes."

Overall, households reduced their purchases of salt by 16% for 6 years, and the acceleration was particularly marked since the summer of 2000, he said, noting that it is possible to get used to add less salt to its food.

But the French are, however, few seek to reduce the salt content, and those who say to avoid in foods do not actually consume less than the other, showed the INCA survey.

Two assumptions are considered by researchers to explain this: "either the message is not passed or the French are struggling to self-assess their salt intake and salt content of processed foods," suggested Jean-Luc Volatier, declaring himself convinced by the second hypothesis.

Whether the food processors themselves have altered the levels of salt in their products following the health recommendations AFSSA, limited evidence of knowledge. AFSSA has developed, in collaboration with the National Consumer Institute, a monitoring device 400 representative products. The evaluation lasted two years, from 2003 to 2005.

All European countries

France is not alone in worrying about the high salt consumption by its citizens. All European countries have taken measures to reduce, often in greater proportions than in the hexagon: for example, the United Kingdom recommends limiting water consumption to 6 g / d, Norway and Greece 5 g / d and Finland, more drastic, 3 to 5 g / d.