Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

To Legislate Or Not To Legislate? A Comparison Of The Uk And South African Approaches To The Development And Implementation Of Salt Reduction Programs, Karen E. Charlton, Jacqui Webster, Paul Kowal

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The World Health Organization promotes salt reduction as a best-buy strategy to reduce chronic diseases, and Member States have agreed to a 30% reduction target in mean population salt intake by 2025. Whilst the UK has made the most progress on salt reduction, South Africa was the first country to pass legislation for salt levels in a range of processed foods. This paper compares the process of developing salt reduction strategies in both countries and highlights lessons for other countries. Like the UK, the benefits of salt reduction were being debated in South Africa long before it became a policy …