Salt

The Campaign for Action on Salt and Health (CASH) have reviewed more than 300 types of bread and found that about one third of available breads do not yet meet the new salt level recommendations to be introduced next year.

Current guidelines recommend 1.1g salt per 100g, but this is to be reduced to 1g per 100g.

Most breads were within the current guidelines but many would not meet the new target.

Salt is linked to high blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. The daily recommended dose of salt varies according to age. Adults should have no more than 6g per day, whilst toddlers should only have 2g.

Salt levels in bread have been falling in recent years. However, many still do not meet current guidelines and there can be a wide variation in levels across the different brands. CASH are advising consumers to check the nutrition labels when buying bread.

Many bakery bought breads do not come with nutrition information and often these breads have higher salt levels than supermarket brands.

A spokesperson for CASH has called for the government to ensure that proper nutritional labeling is available on all bread and that manufacturers meet the targets set in the guidelines.

The Department of Health has welcomed the news that approximately 60% of bread products already meet the targets to be introduced in 2012. A spokesperson said: “This is an important step in helping to reduce salt intake… We look forward to seeing further reductions as more companies meet the targets.”

There are many types of salt, each with specific uses and benefits. We are most familiar with the ones used for culinary purposes; sea salt, table salt, and Kosher salt. But there are other salts that are commonly used, like Epsom salt, or the salt that is used to salt the icy streets during winter. Between the various kinds of salt there are about 14,000 known uses.

Industry claims about 40% of the salt that is used each year worldwide. This is because salt is the raw ingredient which chemical plants transform into chloride and soda ash. These chemicals have many industrial purposes, from glass making to taxidermy.

Salt is also used to soften water, protecting the pipes and appliances in your home. Many pool owners use pool salt to treat their pools, instead of chlorine, because it is much milder a chemical and less harsh on the skin.

Salt is important to both domestic and wild animals. Animals show a greater need for salt than they do for any other consumable, besides water. Both the sodium and the chloride in salt are essential to them maintaining optimal health. Salt supplementation an important part of the nutrition for domestically raised animals. Because it is palatable to these animals, farmers and other animal caretakers use salt as a delivery mechanism for other nutrients and medications that their animals would not voluntarily ingest.

In countries located along the world’s Snowbelt, keeping winter roads safe and passable is a major concern. Salt has consistently outdone other products, and is the most effective snow deicer used today. In the U.S. approximately 40% of the nation’s annual salt consumption comes from their snow fighting efforts.

Around the home salt has many time tested uses as well. In the days before chemical cleaning products were abundant around a household, salt was often called to the task. Either on its own, or mixed with some other simple household staple, such as turpentine, vinegar or water, it has been used to clean everything from your toilet to your copper.

It was also staple in the medicine cabinet. A mild solution of salt and water was used as a mouthwash, eyewash or throat gargle. Epson salt has been used for bathing and treating skin problems or muscle aches.

Of course, mention must be made of salt’s uses in the kitchen. Humans need salt in order to maintain optimum health. It is the oldest food additive known to man, and still the most popular. Not only does it bring flavour to savoury dishes, but it enhances sweet tastes as well. Extensive research on the consumer palate shows that salt the most sought after taste.

The first articles will be published here very soon. In the meantime if you need any information about salt then go to this article on the Wikipedia website.