consumersinternational.org Role of NGOs in the monitoring and evaluation of sodium content in processed foods Hubert Linders Consumers International Calgary, Canada, 18 October

consumersinternational.org Salt is everywhere…

consumersinternational.org Table showing that food labels of breakfast cereals in Chile show incorrect levels of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Salt is not mentioned. Arrows indicate where labels are correct.

consumersinternational.org From: Consumentenbond

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Consumer preferences with respect to salt or sodium on food labelling FSA (UK): preference for salt over sodium Consumentenbond (Netherlands): Salt  57% / Sodium  9% / No opinion  32% Consumers International: Chile: Salt  2% / Sodium  6,5% / Salt & sodium  46,3% / No opinion  45,2% Costa Rica: Salt  28,5% / Sodium  3,3% / Salt & sodium  15,0% / No opinion  54,2% Argentina: Salt  25,3% / Sodium  5,5% / Salt & sodium  31,0% / No opinion  38,2%

consumersinternational.org Consumer knowledge with respect to salt and sodium and intake Argentina Chile Costa Rica “Know” difference salt sodium 9,8% 17,0% 31,2% Answered correctly 6,3% 7,0% 11,6% “Know” recommended salt intake Answered correctly 3,0%6,3% 22,3% 36,7% 2,0% 3,0% Education is necessary!

consumersinternational.org Consumers International HQ: London 3 regional offices Santiago, Chile Johannesburg, South Africa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia >220 member organizations in >115 countries Institutional links with: Codex, WTO, WHO, UNDP, OECD, CSD, UNICEF, UNESCO, ISO, IEC

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