KOTA SAMARAHAN: Salt intake among Malaysians is at an alarming level, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.
He said a study titled “Malaysian Community Salt Study 2017/18” (My CoSS 2017/2018) showed that the average salt intake per day among Malaysians is 7.9g or 1.6 teaspoons.
“The study also showed that four out of five Malaysians consumed salt in high quantity.
“This suggests that the Malaysian population is taking excessive salt, above the level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is less than 5g (one teaspoon) per day,” he told a press conference after officiating the National Salt Reduction Awareness Day 2019 at a shopping centre here today.
Themed “Jom Bertindak #Sedap Tak Semestinya Masin”, the campaign ends on April 20.
Dr Lee said excessive salt intake increases the risk of hypertension and if left unchecked, can cause stroke and heart disease.
He said salt reduction was one of the most cost-effective interventions in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
WHO has set a global target to cut salt intake by as much as 30 per cent by 2025, he said.
Dr Lee said a study in the United Kingdom showed that a reduction of 1g in salt consumption per day could save 7,000 lives. — BERNAMA