Many popular foods may now use salt substitutes, says FDA

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe FDA has finalized a rule that lets food makers use salt substitutes in dozens of standardized foods, and the agency says that covers many popular ones.

2. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo somebody has been quietly swapping the salt in my food, and now it's legal.

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNot quite swapping yet. The rule gives manufacturers permission to do it, and The Hill reports it is now final.

4. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorPermission.

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThink of standardized foods as recipes with a government rulebook. Certain products have to match a federal definition of what's in them.

6. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAnd salt was written into the rulebook as part of the recipe.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIn many cases, yes. The new rule means a maker can use a substitute without the product falling outside its definition.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWho does this touch, then? Me, at a deli counter?

9. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGrocery shoppers, mainly. The editor's angle is that this is a health story, because less salt is the idea behind the change.

10. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI'd like to know what replaces it before I feel healthy about anything.

11. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat part isn't spelled out in what we have, so it's not clear yet which products will change first, or when.

12. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNot clear yet. That is how every great betrayal starts.

13. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOr it's how a perfectly good soup starts. People who want less salt in their diet now have more choices on the shelf.

14. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAnd the people who like their soup exactly as it is?

15. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThey'll be checking labels, which is what the rest of us already do while pretending we're not hungry.

16. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI read labels the way other men read their own obituaries.

17. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThen you'll be the first to spot the change, which is useful for everybody.

18. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWhat should I watch for next?

19. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhich companies actually use the new option, and whether any of them say so loudly. A rule is only permission until someone cooks with it.

20. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo the whole story is a recipe nobody has to announce.

21. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGive or take a label. One sentence version: the FDA says dozens of familiar foods can now use salt substitutes.

22. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorFine. If the soup tastes the same, I'll know they've gotten away with it.

23. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd if it tastes better, we'll never hear the end of it from you.