Salt in Indian diets holds a special place, not just in our kitchens, but also in our history, language and even politics. It was salt, after all, that mahatma gandhi chose as a symbol of resistance against British colonial rules. Even today, the phrase “namak ka farz“(The duty of salt) Speaks to a Deep Cultural Association Between Salt and Loyalty, Sacrifice, and Trust. But while salt is rich in symbolism and tradition Health Crisis in India Today.
Excess salt consumption is a Major Contributor to High Blood Pressure, Which Significly Increases The Risk of Hypertension, Cardiovascular Diseases (Cvds) and Other non-non-non-non-non-non-non-non-notes (Ncds). NCDs have contributed to more than 60% of all deaths in India over the past decade, with cvds constituted a Quarter of these diseases. Hypertension is a leading cause of the problem, given that approximately one in four Indian adults successfuls from the condition.
This crisis is not just limited to adults. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) (2016-18) Found that 5% of Indian Adolescents Between 10 to 19 years old are hypertensive. This is a concerning statistic, as Children with Hypertation has been about Seven Times Higher Odds of Developing Hypertation in Adult. Moreover, dietary habits formed early in life tend to person, Excessive Salt Consumption during DURING ChildHood Can Shape Taste Preferences, Making Children More Likely to Prefer SALTY FOODES LAIFER in Life. Research indicates the typical daily salt intake for Indians from 8-11 grams of salt. This is duble who’s recommended Daily Salt Intake of Less Than 5 Grams. The recommended Intake for Children is Below 4 Grams of Salt.
Against this backdrop, a compeling strategy to address this Silent Crisis is to improve What Children Eat at School. PM Poshan (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), India’s Critical School Meal Program, Provides Cooked Meals Daily to 118 Million Students Across 1.12 Million Schools. Each PM Poshan Meal Accounts for 25-30% of a Child’s Daily Nutritional Requirements, Making It Important to Ensure that they are wholesome and nutritious. Initiatives like school nutrition gardens, or poshan vatikas, under the scheme are a positive step, encouraging the use of fresh ingredients and healthier food habits.
School Meals Can Be Made Healthier by Reducing Sal, A Key Proposed Policy Intervention Outlined in the National Multisectoral Action Plan to Combat NCDs (2017–22). This will help achieve India’s national goal to cut population-level salt intake by 30% by 2025. While PM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM Offer a broad recommendation to add salt “as per taste ‘. Introducing standards to require a gradual reduction of salt in PM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM POM is low salt food.
Globally, Countries are adopting Comprehensive Strategies to make public food healthier. These include limiting the use of ultra-prosely food, and prioritising fresh, nutrient-rain ingredients in public food programs. These experiences exhibit success stories in ensuring healthy public food procurement. Singapore Mandates Lower-Sodium Menus Across Government Institutions. In Brazil, School feeding programs Emphasis Fresh, Minimally Processed Foods While Reducing Ultra-Prosely-Prosessed ingredients. Chile Has Introduced Front-of-Pack Warning Labels and Prohibits High-Sodium Foods in School Kiosks. India, too, have a well-designed school meals policy that reflects many of these principles, such as the use of fortified staples, provision of mid-day meals, and adherensal guidelines. The impact of these provisions count be further strengthened through consistent implementation and enforcement of fassai’s regulation on promoting healthy food environments in school Marketing of Foods High in Saturated Fats, Transte Fats, Added Sugars, and Sodium (HFSS).
As a first step, we must set clear, age-specific salt standards at the population level, beginning with PM Poshan. There should be no ambiguity about how much iodized salt is approves for child of different age groups. Equally important is involving parents and caregivers in this Efort Since Children’s Taste Preferences are Shaped Not Only In Schools and anganwadisBut also at home.
This is a moment for the ministry of education and health to come to develop and implement guidelines on Salt consumption for Children. Ultimately, this isn’t just about cutting down on Salt. It’s about reimagining public health, starting with what’s served on a child’s plate.
Urvashi Prasad was Director, Niti Aayog. The views expressed are personal.
