Statement made on 15 December 2011 by Senator Art Eggleton
Hon. Art Eggleton:
Honourable senators, Canadians consume more than double the recommended daily intake of sodium, about 3,400 milligrams, which generally people associate with salt. What is alarming is that, on average, children as young as one are consuming about double the recommended sodium level every day.
The main problem, according to health experts, is not someone adding salt while they are cooking — because not all salt is sodium and not all sodium is salt — it is the sodium added to processed and packaged foods, such as breads, soup and salad dressings. About 80 per cent of the sodium Canadians consume is added to these and other packaged products by food companies.
This is leading to significant health risks and costs to our health care system. There is a large body of scientific evidence that shows that a diet high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease. There is also evidence to suggest that a diet high in sodium is a risk factor for osteoporosis, stomach cancer and asthma.
Research also suggests that a decrease in the average sodium intake of about 1,800 milligrams per day would prevent more than 20,000 cardiovascular disease events every year, resulting in direct health care savings of $1.3 billion per year.
The government was correct to follow advice from Health Canada officials by establishing a Sodium Working Group in 2007, which came out with a significant report last year. The group recommended a structured, voluntary reduction of sodium levels in processed foods that would be monitored and evaluated. They also called for significant education and awareness for consumers, industry and health professionals because, as a Health Canada report recently said, many Canadians are confused about what steps are necessary to lower their sodium intake.
Unfortunately, honourable senators, the government has ignored the report and disbanded the working group, spending $1 million to have the report sit on the shelf and collect dust. Also, we have recently learned that the government has ignored a plan that its own officials negotiated with the provinces to tackle this issue. This is at a time when the provinces are telling the federal government that it is imperative to focus more on the prevention of illnesses in Canada, which cannot be done by the provinces alone.
Honourable senators, the time to deal with this issue is now. The evidence is clear. The plans are there. All we need now is a federal government willing to show leadership.