Armenian Health Ministry proposes banning salt shakers in catering facilities
Armenia’s Ministry of Health proposes a ban on salt shakers in public catering facilities.
The new bill on trade and services would oblige catering facilities to put salt shakers on tables only at the request of visitors, otherwise they would be fined 30 thousand drams (about $60).
The bill is published on the unified website for publication of draft legal acts – e-draft.am.
The new measures is aimed at protecting public health. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the daily salt intake should not exceed 5 grams, while in Armenia it is consumed twice as much.
The studies conducted in 2016-2017 according to the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) have revealed that 35% of Armenian adults constantly or often salt food even if it is already salted during cooking. 3 out of 10 people eat high sodium processed foods in large quantities.
Reducing salt intake will reduce high blood pressure, the risks of stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney diseases, the ministry says.