A “Low Sodium” ingredient!

SALT… The mere mention of the word can strike fear into any product development professional. In today’s customer driven environment, extraordinary steps are being taken to reduce the amount of salt used in product formulations. The reasons are plentiful: studies conducted by The American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Clinic, and dozens of other professional and governmental organizations link excess sodium intake to hypertension, high blood pressure, heart disease, fluid retention, and kidney stones. Plus, Michelle Obama asks companies to cut levels of salt in nutrition for children. It’s important to point out that salt is not the only factor leading to illnesses, but it is one ingredient we can control.

Elemental sodium is an essential nutrient; we need a balanced amount for our bodies to function normally. Unfortunately, some people find it difficult to reduce their intake of sodium. The amount of salt we consume cannot be wholly controlled by simply moderating the use of the salt shaker at the dinner table. This only accounts for about one-third of our daily intake. Up to half of our salt intake is from processed food. Then the balance occurs naturally in food and water we consume. Up to 75% of the sodium that Americans consume is found in processed foods such as tomato sauce, soups, condiments, canned foods, and prepared mixes. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. Even items that do not taste highly salted can contribute significant quantities of sodium to our diet because of the high amounts we may consume.

Sodium occurs naturally in many foods. Additionally, it is also added in the form of salt or other sodium-containing substances. Varying amounts of sodium are added to food, but not always in the form of salt. Common food additives, such as baking soda, some preservatives, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) also contribute to the total amount of sodium we consume.

In the processing of dried fruits, especially overseas, sodium metabisulfite is often added as a preservative to extend shelf life and retain color.

At Culinary Farms, we do not use sodium metabisulfite! Our Sun Dried tomato products are free of added salt and are considered “low sodium” by the US Food and Drug Association pursuant to 21CFR101.61. Test results from an independent food testing laboratory confirmed Culinary Farms’ Sun Dried tomatoes contained nearly 500% LESS sodium than imported varieties!

Let us help you lower the sodium in your products. It is all about the great flavor and no added salt.