The alarming reality is that globally, most people consume excessive amounts of sodium, far surpassing the WHO’s recommended daily limit of 2000 mg/day. Yet, there is a glimmer of hope as sodium reduction policies and measures have the potential to drastically improve diets and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, all while being a cost-effective solution.

However, as of 2022, only a mere 5% of Member States have implemented at least two mandatory sodium reduction policies, with six high-income and three upper-middle-income countries being the only ones to have implemented all WHO sodium-related best buys.

Even though another 22% of Member States have implemented at least one mandatory policy, this only brings the percentage of the world’s population living in countries with mandatory measures towards sodium reduction to 26%. To make matters worse, 33% of remaining Member States have only implemented at least one voluntary measure, and 29% have merely made a policy commitment towards sodium reduction.

To help combat this crisis, modelling suggests that the impact of policy implementation on sodium intake could lead to a 23.4% reduction globally and a 3.1% reduction in cardiovascular death by 2030. However, to achieve this goal, it is essential to support all countries in achieving the highest Sodium Country Score, and currently, there are significant disparities in policy implementation when reviewed by the World Bank income group.

Governments must adopt mandatory sodium reduction legislation to combat commercial interests that can impede progress. Expanding the number of food categories with reformulation limits and increasing public settings without high-sodium foods can help achieve the target and improve public health. This can also have economic benefits for healthcare systems. Urgent action with a focused and context-specific strategy is needed to combat this growing health crisis.

The implementation of global benchmarks for sodium levels in various food categories is a vital step towards achieving meaningful progress in sodium reduction through food product reformulation. While countries have made some strides in meeting voluntary sodium reduction targets, progress has been slow and limited.

Therefore, it is recommended that mandatory approaches be adopted to achieve the desired reductions in sodium content. The WHO’s establishment of sodium content limits in foods provides a clear and robust framework to guide and promote reformulation efforts, ensuring that the food industry adopts a comprehensive and impactful approach to reducing sodium content in its products. By doing so, the industry can facilitate significant improvements in population health, underscoring the importance of global benchmarks for driving progress in sodium reduction.

In order to foster healthier eating habits and improve public health outcomes, it is crucial for governments to take a leadership role through the implementation of mandatory policies pertaining to public food procurement and service.

By establishing guidelines for the purchase, preparation, and sale of food and beverages in public agencies, governments have the unique opportunity to promote and encourage healthier food choices. Such policies are imperative in ensuring adherence to the fundamental principles of a healthy diet as set out in the WHO action framework. By making these guidelines mandatory, governments can play a vital role in facilitating a shift towards healthier eating habits and improving the overall health of their populations.

The need for improved nutrition labelling policies is crucial to empower consumers to make informed decisions about the foods they purchase. Inconsistencies and misleading information on packaged foods pose a significant challenge, thus a food environment that provides accurate and clear information is imperative.

Implementing mandatory nutrition labelling policies and other measures can mitigate the risk of false, misleading or deceptive labelling, and prevent information that creates an incorrect view about any product characteristics.

Nutrient declarations such as sodium on the back of the package and clear and simple front-of-pack labelling schemes indicating products that do not meet basic nutritional criteria can help consumers make healthier dietary decisions. These policies can also encourage food manufacturers to reformulate their products to meet recommended sodium levels and promote public health.

To foster a healthier food environment, it is imperative to recognize the significant role that marketing restrictions play in reducing the promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages that are high in fats, sugars, and sodium. The proliferation of unethical marketing practices for these products poses a growing concern, and it is crucial to limit exposure to them through the implementation of mandatory marketing restrictions.

By doing so, there can be a reduction in the demand for unhealthy products, and the food industry can be encouraged to reformulate and market healthier products. In this regard, stricter regulation and enforcement of marketing practices are necessary, such as banning the use of misleading health claims, celebrity endorsements, and cartoon characters that appeal to children. By taking these actions, governments can effectively promote healthier dietary habits and contribute to reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

Fiscal policies can be a powerful tool to address the public health impact of unhealthy diets and promote a triple-win effect of improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and increasing revenue for government budgets. Research indicates that implementing taxes on unhealthy foods and beverages can discourage the purchase of these products while promoting healthy foods, and also generate revenue that can be utilized for other public health initiatives.

To reduce the population’s sodium intake, fiscal policies such as imposing taxes on foods high in sodium or eliminating tax benefits for their production and marketing can be implemented. In addition, the revenue generated from these policies can be directed towards subsidizing fresh fruits and vegetables or other strategies for reducing sodium, which can help support a shift towards a healthier food environment. By leveraging fiscal policies, governments can contribute to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases and promoting better health for all.