Growing evidence that increased salt consumption can cause havoc should make health officials sit up and take note (‘Weekend Being’ – “Labelling to take the pinch out of salt”, July 3). There is also a salt-autoimmune disease link, according to a 2013 paper in the journal Nature . It is well known that Indians have a genetic predisposition to heart diseases and diabetes. Many foods that are widely marketed, as the article shows, are loaded with sugar and salt. In today’s modern world where time is at a premium, many of us take the easy way out by using packaged food, thus ending up consuming far more than the recommended amount of sodium.
In the developed world, the food industry is now working with governments on a voluntary basis to reduce salt content in packaged foods. Just as there are graphic health warnings on tobacco products, India must have notes on food packages cautioning consumers about the ill effects of excessive salt and sugar consumption.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
