Fast moving consumer goods major Nestle has pledged to accelerate the reduction of salt across all its food brands worldwide to support a World Health Organisation salt target of no more than 5 gram of salt per person, per day, by 2025.

A decision has been taken to further reduce salt levels across Nestle’s savoury products including soups, noodles and recipe mixes. Moreover, all culinary innovations launched are to be formulated with an even lower level of sodium, said the company.

By 2012, Nestle recipes contained 14,055 less tonnes of salt than in 2005. The company is committed to reducing the amount of salt in its high sodium products by at least 10 per cent in the next three years.

In India, Nestle has health camps in villages. Information regarding micronutrients, such as good locally available sources of food and the symptoms of micronutrient diseases, is given to the people attending the camps. Nestle’s Maggi masala-ae-magic is a taste enhancer fortified with Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine. The company is also looking at bringing down the salt content in its products sold in India.

In the food industry, Nestle has introduced comprehensive policies for the systematic reduction of specific nutrients considered to be detrimental to health when consumed in excess. Since 2005, the company has worked to progressively and continuously reduce the salt in its foods.

Salt alternatives

The company is also conducting nutritional research into salt alternatives, collaborating with the US life sciences company Chromocell Corporation, to identify compounds with similar tastes that could potentially be used instead of salt in a range of foods.

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