Excessive salt consumption can lead to strokes, heart attacks and premature death. Portugal’s experience: how to effectively deal with high salt consumption in the European region Healthcare Salt consumption reduction is one of the most effective ways to combat high blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular diseases that take 10 thousand lives daily in the European region of the World Health Organization (WHO). In most countries of the region, salt consumption remains much higher than the recommended 5 grams per day. on May 12 to 18, a week of salt awareness takes place. The European Bureau of WHO emphasizes the need to develop strategies to reduce salt consumption. 60 > excessive salt consumption can lead to health problems that are fraught with heart attacks and strokes. The data show that the reduction in its consumption by 25 percent will help prevent up to 900 thousand deaths from cardiovascular diseases in Europe by 2030. ~ 60 > 60 > in the WHO they recall that it is cardiovascular diseases that are the main cause of death in the European WHO region, taking 4 million lives annually. The problem is most acute among men, as well as the population of the eastern part of the region. Salt consumption: look for the main source ~ 60 > at an individual level it is very difficult to control the consumption of salt, since more than 70 percent of the salt that we consume is made from processed foods. ~ 60 > “countries need tools to identify and control and control and control and control and control The main sources of salt consumption. That is why the main advice for politicians is to focus on collecting data and studying what should be the main area of action, ”says Maria Gregorio, an employee of the JA Preventncd project aimed at supporting a more effective policy regarding non -infectious diseases in the European Union. Portugal experience: Regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation and regulation Public support Gregorio is also the director of the National Portuguese Program to promote healthy diet. For more than five years, it has been coordinating the policy of reducing the consumption of salt in the country and shares the ideas based on experience. ~ 60 > Portugal has become one of the first countries in the region, which introduced the mandatory target indicator of the salt content in 2009. Given the central role of bread in the Portuguese diet, the initial target indicator of 1.4 grams of salt per 100 grams of bread was an important first step. Today, thanks to the agreement with the sector of bakery products, Portugal went even further by reducing the limit to 1 gram per 100 grams. ~ 60 > similar limit was introduced for other categories of products with a high content of salt, such as Portugal, ready -made vegetables. soups. “Some measures to reduce salt content, such as taxation and a change in the set of ingredients [in products], are not easy to implement,” Gregorio admits. Food companies do not always support regulation measures. progress was achieved only by political pressure. In 2016, the proposed salt tax in Portugal was not adopted by parliament, which instead recommended concluding agreements with the industrial sector on a voluntary basis. ~ 60 > ~ 60 > three strategies to reduce salt consumption according to the words Gregorio, there are three main strategies that can help countries form an effective policy of reducing salt consumption. The first of them is the collection of quality data. “You cannot control the fact that you have not measured,” she explains. Gregorio speaks of the need to collect data on the consumption of food and information about the ingredients contained in the semi -finished products. The second most important strategy is cooperation between countries. “Given the globalization of the food environment and the fact that problems and barriers in many countries are similar, political answers should be coordinated,” says Gregorio. ~ 60 > third possibility – regulation of salt consumption through public procurement. State institutions – schools, hospitals and prisons – buy large volumes of food. Governments can establish standards for the content of salt in their food products and provide regular monitoring for verification of conformity. ~ > 62 ~ in WHO also indicate the need for such measures as labeling of food products on the front side of the packaging and changes in the product recipe Nutrition. ~ 60 > Portuguese experience shows that when political actions are rational, they find wide public support. For example, the tax on sugar aligned in the country is supported by 80 percent of the population. ~ 60 > if there is a competent policy and public support from the country of the European WHO region, they can create a food environment that promotes health. “Use your data. Know your food landscape. Focus on the largest sources of salt in the diet. Start with public procurement of food. And when science is on your side, do not be afraid to resist difficulties, ”says Gregorio.