Tell the FDA: Prevent Disease and Save Lives

Measures to reduce sodium in our diets can prevent over 250,000 cardiovascular disease-related deaths over the next 10 years. To get there, we need your help. Tell the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize voluntary sodium-reduction targets for the food industry.

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Food and Drug Administration

Dear {contact_data~title} {contact_data~lastName}:

I write today to urge the FDA to finalize the two-year voluntary sodium-reduction targets for industry (Draft Guidance to Industry for Voluntarily Reducing Sodium), which were first issued in draft form in 2016.

The authoritative 2019 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium report confirmed its previous recommendation to lower sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day based on evidence that consuming above this daily recommendation increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Finalizing this voluntary guidance will be a powerful public health action to encourage food manufacturers, restaurants, and food service operations to reduce sodium levels in the food supply, ultimately preventing costly diet-related disease in the U.S. Achieving the daily recommendation could prevent over 250,000 cardiovascular disease-related deaths over the next 10 years, and prevent up to 450,000 cases of cardiovascular disease and save $41 billion in healthcare costs over 20 years. Even meeting only the short-term (two-year) targets yields substantial health and economic gains.

I am concerned about the delayed release of the short-term voluntary sodium targets. The FDA has an opportunity and a responsibility to spearhead sodium-reduction initiatives that prevent diet-related disease.

There is strong support from both public health and some large food companies including Danone, Mars, Nestlé, and Unilever for the release of these short-term targets. These targets can help support healthier alternatives for consumers while leveling the playing field for companies—companies that want to reduce sodium in their products are at a competitive disadvantage if other companies do not.

Thank you for your consideration,

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