Too much of a good thing means we need to cut back, says the Federal Office of Public Health
BERN, SWITZERLAND – The Swiss are known for their conservative approach to money, but one area where they are too liberal, it appears, is in adding sodium, or table salt, to their food. A study released Monday by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) shows that people consume nearly double the amount of salt they should, but it also points to ways to reduce this, starting with the food industry.
Too much salt causes health problems, with the risk of cardiovascular disease high on the list. The Chuv (university hospitals) in Lausanne was mandated to carry out the research, with questionnaires for 1,500 people followed up by tests for hypertension.
Men were found to consume more salt than women, 10.6 grams compared to 7.8g. The World Health Organization’s recommends an intake of 5g maximum.
More men had a problem with high blood pressure, 32.3 percent, than women, 19.1 percent, but the average of more than 25 percent shows a population too much at risk for cardiovascular disease, says the FOPH.
School lunches, work canteens will use less salt, more herbs and spices
Expect less, get more, could well be the motto of the future for the Swiss population, with the food industry and researchers now working with the health office to cut back on the use of salt without any loss of flavour or safety in order to help consumers boost their health.
The study is part of the FOPH’s “Salt Strategy 2008–2012“, which aims to reduce the nation’s salt consumption. Salt Strategy is one part of the Swiss Nutrition and Physical Activity Programme 2008–2012.
Eleven categories of products have been targeted for reduced salt, with the federal government laying out recommendations for industry cutting back. Read more…
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Switzerland confirmed 2,423 new cases of swine flu in the week ending 21 November, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced Friday 27 November, bringing the total to 6,691 since the outbreak began. The pandemic has already claimed four deaths in Switzerland, all from high risk patients. FOPH estimates that almost 27,000 people have consulted their doctors about the flu country-wide.
Taking a broken leg to the hospital could take longer in future
Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – One hundred of the 320 hospitals in Switzerland should be closed, says Thomas Zeltner, head of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. He made the remarks on the evening TSR Swiss television programme Infrarouge Tuesday 6 October. Switzerland’s hospital coverage is dense, but expensive, and he suggests that smaller hospitals and clinics be closed, and that the remaining ones specialize.
New Media campaign against A/H1N1
[public health video] Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The fight against the A/H1N1 virus in the French-speaking part of Switzerland is taking on a new face, a drag face.
The Federal Office of Public Health has started its swine flu awareness media campaign, “United against the flu” with a bit of humour: a comedian dressed in drag.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The smoking population in Switzerland declined from 33 to 27 percent from 2001 to 2008. New figures released by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) 18 May confirm a broad downward trend across all ages and the sexes. The drop in smokers among young people aged 14 to 19 years is even more stark: 33 percent smoked in 2001, but this had declined to 23 percent by 2008.
© OFSP 2009
Bern, Switzerland (Genevalunch) - The Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP) has launched an information campaign for organ donations and transplants, with posters and television commercials throughout the country. The OFSP wants to raise awareness about options to donate organs, tissue, and cells and the procedures to follow to make sure wishes are respected.
