Excess salt consumption represents a significant threat to health, in light of the
established link between salt intake, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Salt reduction programs could significantly reduce death and disability by
reducing average blood pressure across the population. In 2009, the Australian
Department of Health established the Food and Health Dialogue, which uses
salt reduction targets to guide voluntary product reformulation by the food
industry. However, the Dialogue lacks many of the features of the United
Kingdom’s more successful program, and research suggests that it has failed to
significantly improve the quality of the Australian food supply. This article
presents a new strategy for reducing population salt intake in Australia.
Acknowledging the political obstacles to the imposition of mandatory standards
for salt reduction, we draw on the regulatory studies literature to develop a
public health governance model that incorporates a broader range of regulatory
techniques. We apply this model to the challenge of reducing population salt
intake by, for example, setting more comprehensive targets and performance
indicators, enhancing accountability and increasing industry participation. We
recommend a ‘responsive’ regulatory approach where the food industry’s
failure to meet salt reduction targets triggers progressively more stringent forms
of regulation. Our strategy rests on the selective introduction of ‘legislative
scaffolds’ to create a more demanding salt reduction program while seeking to
maximise industry cooperation and capacity for innovation
Excess salt consumption represents a significant threat to health, in light of theestablished link between salt intake, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.Salt reduction programs could significantly reduce death and disability byreducing average blood pressure across the population. In 2009, the AustralianDepartment of Health established the Food and Health Dialogue, which usessalt reduction targets to guide voluntary product reformulation by the foodindustry. However, the Dialogue lacks many of the features of the UnitedKingdom’s more successful program, and research suggests that it has failed tosignificantly improve the quality of the Australian food supply. This articlepresents a new strategy for reducing population salt intake in Australia.Acknowledging the political obstacles to the imposition of mandatory standardsfor salt reduction, we draw on the regulatory studies literature to develop apublic health governance model that incorporates a broader range of regulatorytechniques. We apply this model to the challenge of reducing population saltintake by, for example, setting more comprehensive targets and performanceindicators, enhancing accountability and increasing industry participation. Werecommend a ‘responsive’ regulatory approach where the food industry’sfailure to meet salt reduction targets triggers progressively more stringent formsof regulation. Our strategy rests on the selective introduction of ‘legislativescaffolds’ to create a more demanding salt reduction program while seeking tomaximise industry cooperation and capacity for innovation
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