Unilever to Lower Sodium Content

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Unilever will reduce the salt in its products to target a dietary intake of 6 grams of salt per day by the end of 2010, and 5 grams per day for the end of 2015.

The company chose these targets since the former is recommended by most countries’ food authorities, while 5 grams is within World Health Organization guidelines, according to Unilever.

"This is a unique approach as we are dealing with our portfolio in a holistic way in terms of daily dietary contribution, rather than only looking at the input of individual products, or simply launching a lower salt range,” said Gert Meijer, Unilever vice president of nutrition and health, in a statement.

Approximately 75% of salt intake comes from processed foods like bread, cheese, meat, sauces and soups, according to the manufacturer. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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