Poles eat too much salt

Experts said at a press conference in Warsaw, Tuesday, said that although this is a few grammes less than several years ago, Poland still has a long way to go before healthy levels are reached.

Professor Mirosław Jarosz, the director of the Institute of Food and Nutrition in Warsaw, said that an adult person should eat less than 5 g of salt a day, and children and young people between 1,9 and 3.7 g a day, to improve their health.

He stressed that high salt consumption contributes to high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and strokes.

The conference coincided with the World Salt Awareness Week which began on Monday. It serves to highlight the importance of reducing salt intake throughout the world.

This year the focus is on hidden salt. It is estimated that between 40 and 80 per cent of the salt we eat is hidden in the food we buy.

According to experts, only one in four Poles bothers to check the amount of salt in food products, being interested solely in the amount of calories, fats and carbohydrates.

Experts admitted, however, that many producers do not specify the amount of salt on the label. As of mid-December this year, all food producers in the European Union will be obliged by law to do so. (mk/nh)