Salt- and sodium-reduction efforts are well underway across the food industry. Numerous companies have announced such plans; Mars Food U.S. and Kraft Foods both have recently thrown their respective hats into the ring of sodium reduction, with Mars signing on to the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI) and Kraft announcing “support of the NSRI.”
The NSRI is a partnership of cities, states and national health organizations to “guide a voluntary reduction of salt levels in packaged and restaurant foods.” Its goal is to cut the salt in packaged and restaurant foods by 25% over the five years through 2015. Kraft’s announcement indicates its plan will align with NSRI goals for 2012; however, Kraft’s effort reflects an average reduction (of 10%) across its portfolio. Mars will reduce the sodium content of its Uncle Ben’s flavored rice products by 25% over five years. (Other Uncle Ben’s rice and products already meet NSRI targets.) These are only two of a number of manufacturers making such sodium-reduction efforts.