{"id":3217,"date":"2026-07-27T18:02:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3217"},"modified":"2026-07-27T18:02:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:02:05","slug":"fdas-2021-sodium-reduction-targets-had-little-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=3217","title":{"rendered":"FDA\u2019s 2021 sodium reduction targets had little impact"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"ArticleContent\">\n<div class=\"article__below-title\">\n<div class=\"mobile-trust-box\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-1 offset-xl-0 col-xl-12\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u82cf7188105746a69f8bea1cf1fea26d\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/primary-care\/20260727\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Key takeaways:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The FDA\u2019s voluntary sodium reduction targets from 2021 failed to produce major effects.<\/li>\n<li>Only one specific food category, meat products, had lower sodium after the guidance was issued.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. \u2014 A voluntary sodium reduction target issued by the FDA in 2021 has not produced any major impacts, according to new data presented at the annual NUTRITION meeting.<\/p>\n<p>      <b>Matti Marklund, PhD,<\/b> an assistant professor in the department of international health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Healio that the findings are concerning and \u201csuggest that voluntary targets alone are not enough. While it may not be entirely surprising, given the limitations of voluntary policies, we would have hoped to see at least some downward movement across new products introduced into the food supply.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"figure article__og-image\">&#13;\n    <picture>&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/fm_im\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/07_july\/pc0726kusnadi_graphic_01_web.webp?w=476\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/fm_im\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/07_july\/pc0726kusnadi_graphic_01_web.webp?w=800\" media=\"(max-width: 992px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/fm_im\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/07_july\/pc0726kusnadi_graphic_01_web.webp?w=595\" media=\"(max-width: 1200px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/fm_im\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/07_july\/pc0726kusnadi_graphic_01_web.webp?w=476\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/fm_im\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/07_july\/pc0726kusnadi_graphic_01_web.webp?w=476\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/fm_im\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/07_july\/pc0726kusnadi_graphic_01_web.jpg?w=800\" alt=\"PC0726Kusnadi_Graphic_01_WEB\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid\" width=\"800\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>&#13;<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n      The FDA\u2019s voluntary sodium reduction targets from 2021 failed to produce major effects. <em>Image: Adobe Stock<\/em>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<p>According to the CDC, Americans consume an average of over 3,300 mg of sodium daily, far above the American Heart Association\u2019s <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/primary-care\/20240328\/sodium-intake-above-recommended-amount-raises-mortality-risks-in-vulnerable-populations\" id=\"rId9\" target=\"_blank\">recommended daily intake<\/a> of 1,500 mg.<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/primary-care\/20211013\/fda-issues-new-guidance-on-sodium-calls-it-pivotal-moment-in-us-health\" id=\"rId10\" target=\"_blank\">FDA\u2019s 2021 guidance<\/a> had aimed to lower average daily sodium intake in the U.S. from around 3,400 mg to 3,000 mg daily over the course of the next 2.5 years.<\/p>\n<p>Marklund and colleagues, using data from the Mintel Global New Product Database, determined the guidance\u2019s impact by evaluating foods introduced between 2015 to 2025 across nine categories \u2014 meat products, sandwiches and wraps, potato snacks, popcorn, dry soups, wet soups, corn-based snacks, pizzas, and bread and bread products \u2014 identified as major drivers of dietary sodium consumption.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers found that sodium content did not differ (mean difference = 1 mg\/100 g; 95% CI, \u201316 to 13) between products introduced before and after the FDA\u2019s guidance, according to the abstract.<\/p>\n<p>They added that among individual categories, only meat products (mean difference = \u201378 mg\/100 g; 95% CI, \u2013111 to \u201346) had lower sodium content after the FDA guidance.<\/p>\n<p>Four categories, including bread and bread products, dry soups, popcorn and corn-based products, even had higher sodium content after guidance was introduced, according to a press release from the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).<\/p>\n<p>The release said that the study\u2019s methodology, while being \u201cwell-suited for evaluating industry trends &#8230; does not capture the totality of all products on shelves and does not assess the sodium intake of individuals, which may help to show a more complete picture regarding the success of sodium reduction efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The FDA <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/primary-care\/20240816\/fda-announces-new-voluntary-sodium-reduction-targets\" id=\"rId11\" target=\"_blank\">launched phase 2 voluntary<\/a> sodium reduction targets in 2024 \u2014 aiming to lower average intake to 2,750 mg daily \u2014 and is expected to release a formal evaluation of its phase 1 targets sometime this year, ASN said.<\/p>\n<p>Marklund told Healio that moving forward, \u201cstronger approaches may be needed, such as mandatory sodium targets, clearer accountability mechanisms or other policy measures that create real incentives for manufacturers to meet sodium targets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause most sodium comes from packaged and restaurant foods, meaningful progress will likely require policy approaches that go beyond voluntary guidance,\u201d he said. \u201cIndividual behavior changes are helpful, but government policy to improve the food environment needs to happen if we want to reduce sodium intake at the population level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marklund added that health care professionals \u201ccan help by counseling patients about the health risks of excess sodium, encouraging lower-sodium food choices, and emphasizing practical steps such as cooking more at home, relying less on packaged foods and reading Nutrition Facts labels carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content--footer\">\n<div class=\"sources-references-disclosures\">\n<h3>Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n<h2> Source: <\/h2>\n<p class=\"citation\">Kusnadi K, et al. No apparent reduction in sodium content after 2021 issuance of FDA voluntary sodium reduction goals. Presented at: NUTRITION; July 25-28, 2026; National Harbor, Md.<\/p>\n<h2>References:<\/h2>\n<div class=\"disclosures\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n        <strong> Disclosures: <\/strong>&#13;<br \/>\n        Marklund and colleagues report no relevant financial disclosures.&#13;\n      <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Healio AI Widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"healio-ai-component-inline\" data-no-ads=\"true\" data-module-track-category=\"Healio AI\" data-module-track-action=\"Click\" data-module-track-label=\"Access Healio Ai from component - News_AI Component - In-Content (all devices)\">\n<div class=\"healio-ai-content\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m3.healio.com\/~\/media\/images\/healio-ai\/healio-ai_logo.svg\" alt=\"Healio AI\" class=\"healio-ai-logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ask a clinical question<\/strong> and tap into <strong>Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge<\/strong> base.<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n    <\/ul>\n<p>    <button class=\"healio-ai-button\" onclick=\"window.location.href=\" https:=\"\">Learn more<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u82cf7188105746a69f8bea1cf1fea26d\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/primary-care\/20260727\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/primary-care\/20260727\/fdas-2021-sodium-reduction-targets-had-little-impact\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: The FDA\u2019s voluntary sodium reduction targets from 2021 failed to produce major effects. Only one specific food category, meat products, had lower sodium after the guidance was issued. NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. \u2014 A voluntary sodium reduction target issued by the FDA in 2021 has not produced any major impacts, according to new data presented at the annual NUTRITION meeting. Matti Marklund, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of international health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Healio that the findings are concerning and \u201csuggest that voluntary targets alone are not enough. While it may not be entirely surprising, given the limitations of voluntary policies, we would have hoped to see at least some downward movement across new products introduced into the food supply.\u201d &#13; &#13;&#13;&#13;&#13;&#13;&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13;&#13; The FDA\u2019s voluntary sodium reduction targets from 2021 failed to produce major effects. Image: Adobe Stock&#13; &#13; According to the CDC, Americans consume an average of over 3,300 mg of sodium daily, far above the American Heart Association\u2019s recommended daily intake of 1,500 mg. The FDA\u2019s 2021 guidance had aimed to lower average daily sodium intake in the U.S. from around 3,400 mg to 3,000 mg daily over the course of the next 2.5 years. Marklund and colleagues, using data from the Mintel Global New Product Database, determined the guidance\u2019s impact by evaluating foods introduced between 2015 to 2025 across nine categories \u2014 meat products, sandwiches and wraps, potato snacks, popcorn, dry soups, wet soups, corn-based snacks, pizzas, and bread and bread products \u2014 identified as major drivers of dietary sodium consumption. The researchers found that sodium content did not differ (mean difference = 1 mg\/100 g; 95% CI, \u201316 to 13) between products introduced before and after the FDA\u2019s guidance, according to the abstract. They added that among individual categories, only meat products (mean difference = \u201378 mg\/100 g; 95% CI, \u2013111 to \u201346) had lower sodium content after the FDA guidance. Four categories, including bread and bread products, dry soups, popcorn and corn-based products, even had higher sodium content after guidance was introduced, according to a press release from the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). The release said that the study\u2019s methodology, while being \u201cwell-suited for evaluating industry trends &#8230; does not capture the totality of all products on shelves and does not assess the sodium intake of individuals, which may help to show a more complete picture regarding the success of sodium reduction efforts.\u201d The FDA launched phase 2 voluntary sodium reduction targets in 2024 \u2014 aiming to lower average intake to 2,750 mg daily \u2014 and is expected to release a formal evaluation of its phase 1 targets sometime this year, ASN said. Marklund told Healio that moving forward, \u201cstronger approaches may be needed, such as mandatory sodium targets, clearer accountability mechanisms or other policy measures that create real incentives for manufacturers to meet sodium targets. \u201cBecause most sodium comes from packaged and restaurant foods, meaningful progress will likely require policy approaches that go beyond voluntary guidance,\u201d he said. \u201cIndividual behavior changes are helpful, but government policy to improve the food environment needs to happen if we want to reduce sodium intake at the population level.\u201d Marklund added that health care professionals \u201ccan help by counseling patients about the health risks of excess sodium, encouraging lower-sodium food choices, and emphasizing practical steps such as cooking more at home, relying less on packaged foods and reading Nutrition Facts labels carefully.\u201d Sources\/Disclosures Source: Kusnadi K, et al. No apparent reduction in sodium content after 2021 issuance of FDA voluntary sodium reduction goals. Presented at: NUTRITION; July 25-28, 2026; National Harbor, Md. References: &#13; Disclosures: &#13; Marklund and colleagues report no relevant financial disclosures.&#13; Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge base. &#13; PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines &#13; Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news &#13; Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data &#13; Learn more &#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. 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