ConAgra Foods Announces Assault on Salt
ConAgra Foods recently pledged to reduce the amount of salt present in their broad portfolio of consumer food products by 20 percent by the year 2015. The "20 by 15" commitment continues work already taking place across the company, where more than 2 million pounds of salt have been removed from ConAgra Foods products since 2006. The pledge, summarized in the news release below, adds 8 million pounds of salt to the equation. This means that the initiative ultimately will eliminate a total of approximately 10 million pounds of salt per year from the American diet.
Why Worry About Salt?
Medical research has indicated a link between salt intake and hypertension (high blood pressure), which can contribute to heart disease. The public health community is urging the food industry to reduce the salt contained in its products. In fact, it's now projected that, if the food industry were to follow the lead of ConAgra Foods and reduce salt by 20 percent across its product portfolios, U.S. medical costs might fall by as much as $4 billion to $10 billion annually.1
Consumers have also indicated that they are interested in lowering their sodium intake. A recent HealthFocus Trend Report noted a dramatic increase in the interest in and use of lower salt options among primary grocery shoppers over the past four years. In addition, new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are due out next year and municipalities are considering regulatory alternatives to address salt.
"Given this environment, it's important to let both consumers and public health stakeholders know that salt reduction is a priority for ConAgra Foods and that we have a specific, time-bound goal," said Mark Andon, vice president, Nutrition.
Andon noted that ConAgra Foods is out-front on the issue. "We have a lot to be proud of," he emphasized. "More than 20 years ago, we were pioneers when we introduced Healthy Choice® meals to the marketplace—the first, and still the only line of meals in the grocery store to earn the 'healthy' label, in part, for meeting the U.S. government's recommendations for healthful sodium levels." But, when it comes to taking an initiative such as this across the portfolio, "we have to remember that salt reduction is difficult and time-consuming," he cautioned.
Not As Easy As It Might Seem
As many as 20 brands and 160 product formulas in all temperature categories will be impacted by the salt-reduction initiative. "We usually think of salt reduction as a palatability, or taste, issue," explained Jane Anders, vice president, Research & Development. "But salt helps bind food elements together, affects food color and helps preserve food products. So there are no easy answers, no one-size-fits-all solutions."
But there are lots of options. Depending on the product line, it might be as simple as cutting back on salt. Or, in some instances, sea salt might take the place of table salt. And there are sodium-replacement technologies. Some formulations might require a stepwise approach, weaning consumers off salt a little at a time. And changes must be incorporated into product life cycles: Hunt's® Tomatoes are packed once a year, for example. Plus, when sodium is used as a preservative, as it is in Slim Jim® or Hebrew National® products, alternatives diminish. "Whatever we do," Anders stressed, "we must preserve the taste and performance of our consumer products. They must keep delivering on their brand promise."
Two early successes include Hunt's Diced Tomatoes, in which sodium levels were reduced 10 percent for the 2009 fresh pack, and Kid Cuisine® meals, by reducing the sodium to ≤ 600 milligrams per serving this year.
Although the work will be hard, it will be worth it. The investment made in improving the nutritional qualities of ConAgra Foods products will improve the company's reputation as well. And evidence of the company's commitment will be tracked in their annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
"Is it a stretch goal?" Andon asked. "Sure. But it's definitely doable, and it's something we must do to establish ConAgra Foods not just as the company that makes the food that people love but also as the company that makes the food people trust."
1 Potential health benefits and medical cost savings from calorie, sodium, and saturated fat reductions in the American diet, "American Journal of Health Promotion," July/Aug 2009. Potential societal savings from reduced sodium consumption in the U.S. adult population, "American Journal of Health Promotion," Sept/Oct 2009.
