Patient advocates warn FDA proposal on salt intake could do fatal harm to people with kidney disease

STAT August 15, 2023
Nicholas Florko

WASHINGTON — Patient advocates are warning that a recent proposal from the Food and Drug Administration meant to reduce consumers’ salt intake could inadvertently kill those with kidney disease, particularly Black Americans.

The proposal at issue, which is still in draft form, was unveiled by the FDA in April. It would allow the use of salt substitutes in foods that have so-called standards of identity, regulations governing what ingredients must go in popular foods, like ketchup, Asiago cheese, and white bread. Under current rules, food makers cannot use salt substitutes in these products, because the regulations call specifically for table salt.

Kidney advocacy organizations are warning that the proposal could lead to unnecessary deaths because the regulation would increase the...

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