Should the Food Industry Ban Added Salt and Sugar?

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I appreciate the need to cut sugars, since diabetes is found in younger and younger people, and this seems to cause problems for most of the population.
I think many foods are way too salty, but we must remember that most animals actually require salt.
Only HALF the human population cannot adequately handle salt in the diet, and react with an increase in blood pressure. The rest do not have this genetic weakness and increases and decreases of salt in the diet will show no change in their blood pressure.
Although I think we can not be wrong in insisting on more wholesome food, we should be aware of the percent of population that might benefit from our actions and of any possible downside.

Joan Dalton of AL 10:43AM August 22, 2010

Without help from the nanny state, when I was told to limit my sodium after suffering an attack of congestive heart failure, I got a chart from the green grocer showing various fresh fruits and vegetables' content; for prepared food, I noted portion size and served myself accordingly. It amounted to smaller servings of my favorite foods, but that and Mrs. Dash at the table prevented any recurrences--and I lost a few unnecessary and unattractive pounds as well. That was 11 years ago. Personal responsibility for your own health, folks; you're not going to like the government making you do "what's best for you."

Jill of CA 5:04PM August 21, 2010

The ruthless food company will put any thing in the food that will make them some money, Remember China, with the melamine plastic, in everything from dog food to baby food. Our own F.D.A. looks the other way, If I get the children hooked on sugar, or caffeine, or cigarettes I will have a customer for life, Just look how much money I will make from someone else"s suffering.

william anderson of CO 11:01AM August 21, 2010

Del Monte and other canned goods offer "Lower Sodium"- this gets you started. It
will be hard to eliminate totally in a week- but every little bit helps. Fresh vegetables with no salt added will still have some sodium. Cutting out salt helps you lose weight- especially ankles, hands, etc. Eliminate pretzels, etc. Remember "Lower Sodium" means lower, does not mean NO sodium. Read the label. Write down in small notebook your sodium intake for one week!!
Virginia, still kicking at 83

Virginia Dunkelbarger of SC 6:24PM August 20, 2010

I want to limit my salt intake; I look to my local grocery to give me some help. Aside from one brand of "low sodium" tomato pieces, and a low Sodium V8 juice, I have not found anything. I will start to shop at any store in the Rocky Mountain region who can help me maintain a low sodium diet.

John Harrison of CO 11:19PM August 19, 2010

Why are we holding these peoples' hands? No one has a gun to your head and says "eat all this salt and sugar or you die". Grow up and start taking responsibility for yourselves. If the demand for high sodium foods dies out, obviously the supply will lessen as well.. Basic 5th grade social studies.

m of DC 8:46AM July 22, 2010

Artificial ingredients and salts and MSG's (has many different names) is what I have trouble with - but, there's always going to be someone allergic to something - can you train people how to read labels and make those labels more easily understood?When my allergies were discovered, by me, I relieved the pain associated with Parkinson's! I simply put myself on the Feingold Diet - which I used for a hyperactive son and granddaughter, and while on this diet they didn't need their amphetamine drugs!These diseases, etc., weren't around before artificial stuff started getting in food - someone should wake up!

Susan Drais of CA 1:11PM July 10, 2010

Let's ban processed foods all together. And hotdogs and hamburgers, cause everyone knows it's hotdogs and hamburgers that make people fat. And cheese, because cheese is evil. Come to think of it, let's just ban all foods except fruits, vegetables, and brown rice, and everyone will be thin, once we force them all to be vegans, regardless of food allergies.
Think I'm being sarcastic? This is what is going to happen in 2014.

Willow of MN 6:28PM June 27, 2010

Since no consumer was ever asked if they wanted extra sugar or salt in their food, and it's obvious America doesn't need it, just leave it out!

Lisa of SD 7:55PM June 22, 2010

Most Americans are considerably smarter than members of Congress. They have less than a 20% approval rating. Do you really want someone with that low confidence level legislating what we eat or not. I guess that's their intelligence level. We do not need a "Nanny State".

Church Cook of TX 7:57AM June 22, 2010