FDA Amends Food Standards to Allow Salt Substitutes in 139 Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule that permits the use of salt substitutes in 139 foods with existing standards of identity (SOI). Previously, these SOIs either required or allowed the addition of salt (sodium chloride) but did not explicitly permit the use of salt substitutes. This regulatory change is designed to provide food manufacturers with greater flexibility to reduce sodium content in their products. The FDA's action aligns with its broader multi-phase Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals, which aim to encourage the food industry to gradually decrease sodium levels across the U.S. food supply. The amendment addresses a long-standing limitation where specific SOIs, which detail required and optional ingredients and sometimes production methods, restricted the use of alternatives to sodium chloride.
