The George Institute supports the Australian Government's National Preventive Health Task Force in considering tough proposals to improve diets
Said Professor Bruce Neal, Senior Director, The George Institute for International Health and Chair of the Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health: "Australians are eating dangerously high levels of salt. Salt reduction and other nutrition initiatives should be seen as a key priority alongside smoking and alcohol prevention. Banning foods is not prudent but tough measures to control the amount of salt in foods should be considered. Kraft and other companies need to do more to reduce salt levels in all foods, including vegemite."
Vegemite contains over 3000mg sodium (7.5grams of salt) per hundred grams - six times the amount in a classified high salt food.
Vegemite on toast or a vegemite sandwich contains about a gram of salt which is around 20% of an older child’s recommended daily amount.
See also:
- Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health - Salt levels in selected foods commonly eaten by children
- Australian Food and Grocery Council Media Release - Taskforce Should Consider Facts - Not Fiction - 8 January 2009