Food Labeling: Revision of Reference values and Mandatory Nutrients
The Food and Drug Administration recently asked for comments on what new reference values the agency might use to calculate the percent daily value (DV) on the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels and what factors the agency should consider in establishing such new reference values. The Salt Institute provided a comprehensive response addressing the questionable value of this type of labeling to consumers.
The Salt Institute strongly support the provision of objective scientific information to consumers in a manner that will help consumers can make informed choices. Currently, nutrients are labeled in isolation - not in reference to thief role in the whole diet. While placing the impact of individual nutrients into context with our "whole diet" is a complicated task, this is how nutrients are metabolized on an ongoing basis. Lacking a complete knowledge of how individual nutrients impact upon each other in the overall diet, the question remains as to whether the consideration of nutrients in isolation for the purposes of informing consumers is truly a functional benefit to them. While no one doubts that this data provides information, it can compromise perspective by taking nutrients out of their 'holistic diet' context.
Based upon the results of the DASH diet and the most recent results on the positive impact of vegetables on the diet, we are not certain that the establishment and dissemination of a DV is of particular benefit to consumers. Salt consumption is self limiting because of taste and despite the outcry regarding our current levels of consumption, our cardiovascular performance is significantly better than that of Finland - the only country that has significantly reduced its salt consumption by 40-50% in the last 30 years. If a DV is felt to be absolutely necessary, it is certainly not in anyone's interest to reduce it any further than its current level.
