|World Salt Awareness Week: “Less salt, please!”| Everyone can
play a role in reducing salt intake to improve health
Washington, D.C., 12 March 2013 (PAHO/WHO) — The Pan American
Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is
joining the call for “Less salt, please!” during this year’s
World Salt Awareness Week. The March 11–17 campaign urges
everyone to help reduce dietary salt, with a focus this year on
chefs, caterers, and others who prepare food for consumption
outside the home. “Restaurants and caterers often add excessive
salt to foods because they think that’s what customers want,”
notes Branka Legetic, who leads PAHO/WHO’s salt reduction
efforts. “But people can in fact change their tastes for salt
over time. If you gradually consume less salt, you will
gradually want less salt. The same is true of sugar. Chefs and
caterers can help consumers choose this better path.” Salt is an
essential part of the human diet, but most people consume more
than they realize and more than is healthy. Cons