WHO Warns Vietnam of Savory Eating Habit

Vietnam must have action plans against the abuse of salt in eating habit as an effort to limit the rate of cardiac diseases which cause 33% of deaths in the country per year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a press release on Sept 29. Vietnamese people eat between 12 and 15 gram of salt per day each, tripling the amount advised by WHO, the press release showed. The amount is higher compared to 10 gram in Japan and China. A research conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition showed that local people absorb salt from spices, fast food, and natural food. Fish sauce, a major spice, provides an amount of 35% salt daily. According to a WHO report, the rate of hypertensive patients aged above 25 in Vietnam is more than 25%. High blood pressure leads to cardiac diseases and this kind of disease is the leading reason causing deaths in the Southeast Asian country. WHO advised Vietnam to promote campaigns on healthy eating at public places including schools, hospitals, working offices and tighten control on products using salt by having strict requirements. (Phap Luat Vietnam – Vietnam Law Sept 30 p2, Thanh Nien – Young People Sept 30 p2)