CFS launches Facebook page on Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugars Reduction

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 16) officially launched a dedicated Facebook page on Hong Kong's Action on Salt and Sugars Reduction (www.facebook.com/HongKongsActiononSaltandSugarsReduction) to promote healthy eating with less salt and sugars to the general public and the food trade.

Salt and sugars are closely related to health. Excessive dietary salt intakes will increase the risk of developing hypertension, stroke and coronary heart diseases while dietary sugar intake will lead to obesity and dental caries.

In the coming year, the Government will devise and implement a strategic plan to reduce intake of salt and sugars in food so as to promote a healthy diet. The Government's target is to gradually reduce the intake of salt and sugars by Hong Kong citizens to the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). For salt, the WHO recommends a maximum salt intake of 5 grams per day and that the intake of salt shall be reduced by a relative 30 per cent (i.e. from 10g to 7g in the case of Hong Kong) by 2025. As regards sugar, the WHO recommends the intake of free sugar should be less than 50g (i.e. 10 sugar cubes) per day for an individual with a daily energy intake of 2,000 kilocalories. According to the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, free sugar means all sugar added to foods by manufacturers, cooks or consumers, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices.

"To align with the Government's target, the CFS will actively promote salt and sugars reduction through different platforms, including the dedicated Facebook page, to reduce dietary salt and sugars in Hong Kong and assist the public to develop and practise healthy dietary habits through public education, sharing of expert advice and display of successful international experience," a CFS spokesman said.

The dedicated Facebook page contains a wide range of information on dietary salt and sugars reduction, including health risks caused by excessive intake of salt and sugars and related risk assessment and studies and practical tips on how to reduce salt and sugars in daily life.

Information on seminars and other promotional activities organised by the CFS will also be uploaded to the dedicated Facebook page to keep users posted.

The spokesman said the CFS will continue to mobilise the participation of the whole community, through collaboration with the food trade and consumers, to further promote the reduction of dietary salt and sugars in Hong Kong.

Ends/Friday, January 16, 2015