The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) has requested that the short-term sodium reduction goals be extended to at least four years, and that FDA account for differing functional roles of sodium in its proposed sodium targets for certain food categories.

• As previously covered on this blog, on June 1, 2016, FDA issued a draft guidance document that provides voluntary sodium reduction targets for various food categories, specifically aimed at food manufacturers, restaurants, and food service operators. The draft guidance sets forth a 2-year goal of reducing intake to 3,000 mg per day and a 10-year goal of reducing intake to 2,300 mg per day.  As also covered on this blog, FDA subsequently announced an extension of the comments period for its draft guidance such that the comment period for 2-year sodium reduction targets was extended to October 17, 2016 (instead of August 31, 2016), and the comment period for the 10-year targets is now December 2, 2016 (instead of October 31, 2016).
• In response to FDA’s proposed 2-year sodium reduction targets, on October 17, 2016, GMA submitted comments to FDA recommending that the timeline to meet the short-term reduction goals be extended to at least four years. GMA also proposed accounting for differing functional roles of sodium in its proposed sodium targets for certain food categories. GMA’s comments are available here.
• The food industry has been voluntarily reducing sodium in products for years and, as evidenced by GMA’s recent comments, is eager to continue working with FDA to achieve the Agency’s sodium reduction goals.