Prodded by state and federal health officials, restaurants and food manufacturers are pledging to cut salt in their products. Subway, Mars and 14 other companies have so far agreed to reduce sodium levels in their food products by 25 percent over the next five years, according to the Los Angeles Times. Kraft, General Mills, Sara Lee and other major companies have made similar pledges.
Packaged and processed food provides 77 percent of our salt intake. Among the grocery store’s saltiest offerings are Hungry-Man grilled bourbon steak strips, Boston Market meat loaf and Hormel Compleats beef pot roast, the latter two with trimmings.
Last month, the Institute of Medicine pressed authorities to set limits on the amount of salt permitted in prepared food from restaurants and grocery stores in order to reduce heart disease.
