A pair of riders included in the House-passed appropriations package will delay federal efforts to reduce sodium in foods to the detriment of public health. The Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, alongside the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has long opposed legislative attempts that compromise nutrition policies rooted in science. These latest policy riders represent a regression in our collective endeavor to enhance the American diet.

The first rider limits the Food and Drug Administration’s ability to advance long-term voluntary sodium reduction targets for industry until the agency has conducted an assessment of the impact of the short-term targets, which were released in October 2021 and included a voluntary compliance date of April 2024.

The second rider limits the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ability to tighten sodium standards in the school lunch and breakfast program in its upcoming update to school meal standards. This would freeze current sodium levels through the 2026-27 school year and prevent further science-based reductions in sodium.

It is imperative for Congress to facilitate, not halt, the advancement of sodium reduction measures that are essential for the betterment of public health.

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About the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance
The Sustainable Food Policy Alliance seeks to accelerate the pace of change in the food industry through individual company leadership and collective support for public policies that raise the bar and inspire further action in this critical journey. As some of the world’s best-known food companies, founding members Danone North America, Mars, Incorporated, Nestlé USA, and Unilever United States recognize our responsibility to drive positive change for the people who use our products, the people who supply them, and the planet on which we all rely. To learn more about the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, visit www.foodpolicyalliance.org.