Iran's Ministry of Health: 47 Million People Consume Unhealthy Food

The Deputy Minister of Health in Iran stated that 47 million people in the country consume unhealthy food, and 10 million individuals aged 15 to 64 are suffering from high blood pressure. According to IRNA news agency, Ali Akbar Siari said on Wednesday, December 24, "Unhealthy food consumption means low intake of fruits and vegetables, and high consumption of fats, sugar, and salt." Mr. Siari noted that Iranians consume an average of 10 to 12 grams of salt daily, while individuals over 50 should consume three grams and others should consume less than five grams of salt per day. He emphasized, "If we can reduce the salt content in several main products like sauces, tomato paste, bread, and cheese by 50%, we will significantly decrease the salt intake of the population." The Iranian Ministry of Health has designated December 6 to 15 as "National Week for Reducing Salt Consumption" and announced plans to reduce salt intake among Iranians. Zahra Abdollahi, the Director General of the Nutrition Improvement Office at the Ministry of Health, announced on Wednesday that they are reviewing the standards for salt and sugar in various breads, cheeses, tomato pastes, and sauces, stating that this regulation is in the process of being issued and has not yet been implemented. Mr. Siari continued his remarks on Wednesday by identifying salt reduction as one way to prevent high blood pressure, adding that 10 million people aged 15 to 64 are affected by this condition. He indicated that 50% of those with high blood pressure are unaware of their condition, while estimates suggest that 86,500 deaths annually are related to high blood pressure. On April 22, 2013, a conference titled "High Blood Pressure" was held at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. At this conference, Alireza Oliaei Manesh, a faculty member at Tehran University, presented evidence that according to the World Health Organization, Iran is among the countries where about 30 to 40 percent of individuals over 15 years old have high blood pressure. The Deputy Minister of Health also mentioned that counterfeit sea salts from Urmia and Qom lakes have entered the market. According to Mr. Siari, these sea salts pose dangerous health risks. Mohammad Alavi-Fard, a member of the Association of Refined Salt Producers in Iran, stated on November 14 that over 35% of the salts available in the Iranian market, packaged attractively, are counterfeit, non-standard, and lack health permits.