- Prof Graham MacGregor said meddling by ex-Health Secretary Andrew Lansley meant vital salt reduction targets have only just been agreed
- He said the targets should have been introduced four years ago
- People should eat no more than 6g of salt a day, according to the WHO
By
Stephen Adams
20:29 EST, 8 March 2014
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20:30 EST, 8 March 2014
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As many as 12,000 people may have died needlessly of heart attacks and strokes because of the Government’s ‘disastrous’ policy on salt, a leading doctor has claimed.
Meddling by former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley meant vital salt reduction targets – which should have been introduced four years ago – have only just been agreed, said Professor Graham MacGregor of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine.
People should eat no more than 6g of salt a day, according to the World Health Organisation. Higher intake can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
As many as 12,000 people may have died needlessly of heart attacks and strokes because of the Government’s ‘disastrous’ policy on salt, a leading doctor has claimed
The average Briton currently consumes about 8g.
Prof MacGregor claimed that, had targets been set four years ago, consumption would now be 0.5g per day lower.
He said: ‘We estimate we would have saved approximately 3,000 people a year if the targets had been set by the Food Standards Agency in 2010.’
Professor Graham MacGregor said meddling by ex-Health Secretary Andrew Lansley (pictured) meant vital salt reduction targets – which should have been introduced four years ago – have only just been agreed
Mr Lansley took responsibility for public nutrition away from the FSA in 2010 and gave it to the Department of Health. Prof MacGregor claimed this ‘basically caused chaos’.
He said that Mr Lansley also ‘adamantly refused’ to set a rolling target for reduction in the 2010-2014 period – leading to ‘a loss of momentum’.
A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘Far from lacking momentum, the World Health Organisation has said our salt reduction work is world leading.’
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
BristolDave,
Manchester,
1 day ago
Salt, sugar, alcohol, carbohydrates, refined flour products, the list goes on. The government’s job is to educate people about over-indulgence in particular foodstuffs, not to tax the latest “demon†foods or make decisions on our behalf.
Freshword99,
Southend, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
It is the hidden salt that is unclear because of obfusction on the packet that gets over consumed. We do need controls, just as we do with sugar and fat and in my personal opinion the relationship between the authorities and the food industry is so close as to be highly questionable. How is it that Governments have Billions to spend on surveillence of Citizens but are unable to find even small amounts to monitor food content properly?
It is my view, my personal opinion, based on events that there is a combination of lobbying and connivance that amounts to criminality at the top of the establishment that merits a public enquiry.
Andy Salter,
Bournemouth, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
Probers is as soon any anyone in any Possition of authority advises the public on something there are always those so offended by this go out of there was to do the opposite of what advice they have been given.
Amy,
London, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
Why is it the governments responsibility to do this? Get out of our lives and stop controlling us.
Paul E,
Colchester,
1 day ago
Actualy latest research concludes that it is not too much salt, but too little pottasium
Ted,
Middle Earth, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
As many as 12,000 people ‘may’ have died needlessly so its ‘MAY’ then, maybe 10, 50, 600. 100,000? A guess just like all the other guess’s they publish as facts.
Watcher with a Pie,
Oop North, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
Could this refusal to act be linked to funding received by the Torys by any chance?
Gareth,
York, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
Another know all telling us what to do and what to eat. Do we actually pay people like this?
markinalpine,
West Texas,
1 day ago
6 grams of salt per day? That seems to be very high. My Doctor says 2.4 gams is the recommended limit, and I am not particularily salt sensitive.
John Verity,
Bristol, United Kingdom,
1 day ago
More baloney (37% sodium) If you must print this fiction at least ask them to supply the verified data they got these figures from, Or were they just plucked out of the air as most of us suspect.
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