In effort to ensure that children eat more fresh foods, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) has called on the food processing industry to reduce the amount of salt in their products, and to desist from the promotion and advertising of such products.This comes with the recognition of the international observation of World Salt Awareness Week,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, March 16-22.PAHO/WHO’s advisor on non-communicable diseases,NFL Jerseys China, Dr. Branka Legetic explained that in most cases, persons are unaware as to how much salt they are consuming, since high contents of it are being hidden in processed foods.In order to remedy the situation,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Dr. Legetic said that while, “one part of the solution is for the food-processing industry to reduce salt in its products. Another part of the solution is to use less salt in cooking, and to make sure kids eat more fresh foods prepared at home.”PAHO/WHO noted that children “are especially vulnerable to advertising and marketing, and at the same time, are developing eating habits that will have a strong impact on their dietary patterns as adults.”Threats of high salt consumption leading to hypertension, osteoporosis, asthma and other respiratory diseases, obesity, and stomach cancer in children were said to be a foreseeable consequence of continued high salt consumption.However, the fact that children are at that impressionable stage of their development, is said to serve as an advantage for the PAHO/WHO strategy to promote the eating of freshly prepared foods in the home.“Saltiness is an acquired preference,Discount NFL Jerseys, so it’s possible —and from a health standpoint critical— for parents to take steps to keep children from developing a taste for salt early on,holesale Soccer Jerseys,” said Legetic. “If parents involve their kids in preparing meals at home, that will help even more to establish good dietary habits for life.”SALT CONSUMPTION IN THE AMERICASWithin some North and South American territories, daily salt intake is in excess of 5 grams which is considered dangerous, since it increases risk of high blood pressure, renal failure, and other cardiovascular complications.Canada, Chile and the United States, are said to be consuming 8.5-9 grams of salt daily, with Brazil racking up 11 grams and Argentina leading with 12 grams.As of 2009, PAHO/WHO has been making efforts to reduce dietary salt in the Americas through joint action among governments, health experts,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, industry representatives and non-governmental groups.In 2013, the PAHO/WHO-led Salt Smart Consortium developed an action plan that calls on food processors to voluntarily reduce salt levels in their products, proposing specific targets for reduced salt in food groups ranging from breads, cookies and cakes to processed meats, mayonnaise and soups.The plan also calls for public-awareness campaigns that help consumers understand food labels and why it is important to consume less salt. |