Cross-sectional comparisons of sodium content in processed meat and fish products among five countries: potential for feasible targets and reformulation

Abstract

IntroductionReducing sodium intake has been identified as a highly cost-effective strategy to prevent and control high blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular mortality. This study aims to compare the sodium content in processed meat and fish products among five countries, which will contribute to the evidence-base for feasible strategies of sodium reduction in such products.MethodsSodium content on product labels of 26 500 prepackaged products, 19 601 meat and 6899 fish, was collected in supermarkets from five countries using the FoodSwitch mobile application from 2012 to 2018. To be specific, it was 1898 products in China, 885 in the UK, 5673 in Australia, 946 in South Africa and 17 098 in the USA. Cross-sectional comparisons of sodium levels and proportions meeting 2017 UK sodium reduction targets were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis H and the χ2 test, respectively across the five countries.ResultsThe results showed that processed meat and fish products combined in China had the highest sodium level (median 1050 mg/100 g, IQR: 774–1473), followed by the USA, South Africa, Australia, with the lowest levels found in UK (432 mg/100 g, IQR: 236–786) (p<0.001). Similar variations, that is, a twofold to threefold difference of sodium content between the highest and the lowest countries were found among processed meat and fish products separately. Large sodium content variations were also found in certain specific food subcategories across the five countries, as well as across different food subcategories within each country.ConclusionProcessed meat and fish products differ greatly in sodium content across different countries and across different food subcategories. This indicates great potential for food producers to reformulate the products in sodium content, as well as for consumers to select less salted food.

Nutritional Quality of Pre-Packaged Foods in China under Various Nutrient Profile Models

“…China was ranked in the least 3rd among 12 countries for healthy beverages and foods according to the Health Star Rating NPM for pre-packaged foods with the data collected in 2013-2018 [30]. Our previous studies have reported high levels of sodium in several food groups, such as sauces and processed meat and fish products [33,34]. However, the overall healthiness of the pre-packaged food supply remains unknown.…”

Reducing daily salt intake in China by 1 g could prevent almost 9 million cardiovascular events by 2030: a modelling study

“…Most notably, the consumption of processed and out-of-home foods has increased in recent years and this trend is expected to continue 8. Processed foods in China have also been found to be saltier than in other countries 38. To anticipate this, it would be necessary to implement a strategy based on setting incremental salt targets for all manufactured foods in order to decrease salt content over the whole range of products from the food industry, as pioneered in the UK and successfully adopted by many countries, for example, Australia and South Africa 39.…”

“… 8 Processed foods in China have also been found to be saltier than in other countries. 38 To anticipate this, it would be necessary to implement a strategy based on setting incremental salt targets for all manufactured foods in order to decrease salt content over the whole range of products from the food industry, as pioneered in the UK and successfully adopted by many countries, for example, Australia and South Africa. 39 Nevertheless, most (70%–75%) of the salt consumed in China still comes from the salt added by the consumer during cooking.…”

Seven days in medicine: 13-19 October 2021

“…The United States ranks second in the world behind China for high salt (sodium) content in processed meat and fish products, a study published in BMJ Open found 5. Researchers in China analysed 26 500 products in five countries.…”