BANGKOK, 21 March 2017 (NNT) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to impose measures to reduce the amount of sodium intake in the country after finding that an average Thai person consumes over 4,000 milligrams each day.

Deputy Secretary-General of the FDA Poonlarp Chantavichitwong has chaired a meeting between the FDA and related agencies, including the Low Salt Thailand Network, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the World Health Organization, aimed at seeking ways to regulate the amount of sodium used in the food industry, particularly in the production of frozen foods and condiments.

Initially, the FDA plans to lower the nation’s sodium intake by raising public awareness of the dangers of the overconsumption of salt. In the meantime, the public sector will be responsible for rolling out policies to compel food producers to cut down on their use of salt.

Based on a survey conducted in 2007, Thai people consumed 4,351 milligrams of sodium per person per day. The figure more than doubled the amount suggested by the World Health Organization, which is 2,000 milligrams or one tablespoon per day.

An excessive intake of sodium is dangerous as it can lead to many health problems, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and cancer.

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