France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt, says Ontarians eat too much salt, and she's looking to introduce legislation to curb the practice.
She's introduced the Health Protection and Promotion Amendment Act to make food sold in Ontario contain reduced sodium content.
It will be in line with guidelines for sodium reduction established by the World Health Organization (WHO). The reductions are progressive so recipes can be adjusted, and food continues to be tasty.
Gélinas says according to research published by the American Heart Association, the average daily sodium intake for people in the United Kingdom decreased from 9.38 grams to 8.38 grams per day from 2000 to 2018, with progressive sodium reductions. The research suggests that this will decrease cases of premature ischemic heart disease and premature strokes in the United Kingdom.
"Many people overeat sodium, which can cause high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, gastric cancer, liver diseases, and obesity," says Gélinas.
"Cardiovascular disease is often linked to high blood pressure, so excess dietary sodium can also be a risk factor for cardiovascular problems. The processed foods that are sold to Ontarians often have high sodium levels, which contributes significantly to the excess sodium that people are eating. With the World Health Organization guidelines, the amount of sodium in processed foods would be lower, which would help Ontarians to eat healthier foods and decrease their risk of diseases linked to consuming excess sodium."
