Reducing sodium in our patient and resident menus

To meet national guidelines to reduce the sodium intake of Canadians, the BC Ministry of Health has been working together with BC’s health authorities to reduce the sodium content of meals provided in health care facilities. The aim is to reduce the sodium content of the regular menus by at least 10% each year to achieve the target of 2300 mg of sodium per day by 2016.

So how much sodium is 2300 mg?  Sodium in meals comes from salt added to food during cooking and sodium used in processed foods and ingredients.  One salt packet provides 388 mg of sodium and one teaspoon of salt provides 2300 mg. The current VCH menu provides approximately 3600 mg of sodium daily. The new guideline would see sodium reduced in the menu to the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of salt daily by 2016.

To meet this requirement to reduce the sodium in our menu, starting March 25, 2013 all VCH facilities will no longer provide salt packages on meal trays. Salt will still be available by request for individuals.

This initial strategy will reduce the sodium content of the menu to approximately 2600 mg per day. The goal is to reduce the sodium content of the meals without compromising flavour and taste.  Further steps will be taken in the subsequent three years to achieve the required target of 2300 mg of sodium per day by 2016.

To learn more:  visit www.healthfamilies.bc.ca