In October, FDA released long-anticipated guidance on sodium-reduction targets for the food industry — a move designed to encourage the reduction of Americans’ sodium intake, which exceeds the 2,300-milligram limit recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by nearly 50%.
The targets, while voluntary, ignore the chief recommendation by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and dairy foods companies to exempt the cheese category from these targets for functionality, food safety, and quality reasons. And while these short-term targets might be achievable within the guidance’s deadline of two and a half years for some cheese categories, further ”long-term” reduction targets from FDA are actively under consideration.