Report: FDA should force rollback in salty foods

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - An independent group that advises the government on health matters is urging the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the amount of salt in food, and the FDA says the idea is under consideration.

Americans eat about 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt daily, more than double what they need for good health - and high enough to increase risk of high blood pressure and other problems.

Most of that sodium comes inside common processed foods, and the prestigious Institute of Medicine said Tuesday the food industry hasn't done enough to voluntarily cut back. It urged FDA to set maximum sodium levels for different foods in a stepwise rollback, so people could adjust to the change.

FDA spokeswoman Meghan Scott says no decision has been made but "no options are off the table."