Bengaluru, September 22 (Udaipur Kiran) : Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader has announced a significant initiative aimed at reducing excessive salt consumption across the state. Launched during a meeting of the Technical Advisory Group at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, the Karnataka State Multisectoral Action Plan seeks to curb salt intake and promote healthier dietary habits as part of efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The plan aligns with India’s global commitment to reduce salt consumption by 30% by 2030 and supports the World Health Organization’s recommendation of less than five grams of salt per person per day. Currently, it is estimated that Indians consume about 8 to 11 grams of salt daily, nearly double the WHO’s guideline.
Khader emphasized the government’s dedication to preventing NCDs through healthier diets and reducing dietary risk factors. He proposed the formation of a state operational committee to ensure coordinated and sustained action involving multiple departments.
The Karnataka government has already implemented measures to tackle foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, which are seen as foundational to fostering a healthier food environment. A Technical Advisory Group, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, B.C. Bhagwan, will provide technical guidance and support for evidence-based measures to reduce salt intake and promote healthy eating practices.
This initiative will focus on three key areas regarding salt consumption: home use, food consumed outside, and processed and packaged foods. Strategies include minimizing unnecessary salt use, promoting healthier food alternatives, encouraging reductions in salt content in processed foods, strengthening dietary counseling through health systems, and supporting research on potassium-rich low-sodium salts.
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