61pc processed foods have unhealthy amounts of salt: study

Around two-thirds of the packaged food that was tested contains unhealthy levels of salt, finds a study.

The research was conducted by National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB) and supported by the USA-based organisation Resolve to Save Lives.

NHFB researchers tested 14 types of processed food of 105 brands. 

Considering 750 mg of salt per 100 g of food as the safe limit, the researchers found that around 61 percent of processed food has salt above the safe limit, while 34 percent have double the safe amount of salt.

Dr Ahmad Khirul Abrar, NHFB research coordinator, presented the study's findings at an event in Dhaka's Cirdap auditorium yesterday.

According to Food Labelling Rules 2017, mentioning the amount of salt on the packet is mandatory. However, the maximum permissible amount of salt in processed food is not fixed by the government. 

Around 44 percent of processed food was found to contain a higher amount of salt than mentioned in the packet.

According to the study, around 97 percent of people consume packaged food twice a day, increasing the risks of hypertension, heart attacks, strokes and kidney diseases.

Speakers urged the government to fix the maximum permissible limit and ensure proper labelling of the amount of salt.

Zannatul Ferdous, assistant director at Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, said they will take action against the brands who provide false information regarding the amount of salt on labels.

Moderated by Dr Sheikh Mohammad Mahbubus Sobhan, coordinator of the study, Prof Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of epidemiology and research, NHFB; Prof Dr Abdul Alim, member of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority; and Prof Akhtaruzzaman of nutrition and food science, Dhaka University, spoke at the event.