FDA delays salt recommendations

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is delaying new salt guidelines.

The FDA issued draft guidelines in June that recommended food manufacturers and restaurants take steps to lower the amount of sodium in their food. But the agency is extending the comment period to give the public more time to consider the changes. The move has the potential to slow down the process.

The FDA announced the delay earlier this month, but is formally publishing it in the Federal Register. The public now has until Oct. 17 to comment.

The FDA notes that more than 70 percent of the sodium people consume does not come from the salt shaker but is already in their food.

Most Americans eat about 3,4000 milligrams of sodium per day, according to the FDA, which would like to initially lower the level of consumption to 3,000 mg.