Nestlé USA backs 'potassium salt' petition

By Elaine Watson

- Last updated on GMT

Nestlé USA backs 'potassium salt' petition

Related tags Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Potassium

Nestlé USA has joined a growing number of food manufacturers backing a citizen’s petition from NuTek Food Science asking the FDA to allow ‘potassium salt’ as an alternate name for potassium chloride on food labels.

The FDA’s move to include potassium as one of the nutrients that must be listed on the Nutrition Facts panel ​​(the FDA is also raising​​ the DRV for potassium from 3,500mg to an RDI of 4,700mg) - ​coupled with its new sodium reduction targets ​​- ​have focused attention on potassium chloride (KCL), a leading salt replacer.

But its name is putting consumers – who are looking for clean labels and suspicious of ‘chemical-sounding’ ingredients – off, said Eva Hurt, VP regulatory and scientific affairs at Nestlé USA in comments to the FDA submitted January 9.

“Our concern is that consumers may not choose a product that lists potassium chloride as an ingredient because of the term ‘chloride.’ This would severely inhibit our ability to sell products with reduced amounts of sodium (as encouraged by the FDA’s voluntary sodium reduction draft guidance) and thus have a negative influence on the impact of such products on the overall diet of consumers.

“Nestlé fully supports this petition because recognizing potassium salt as an alternative common or usual name would better promote consumer understanding of the ingredient and improve consumer experience.”

A friendlier name would demystify the ingredient and help the industry achieve the dual goals of lowering sodium and increasing potassium intakes, according to petitioner NuTek Food Science​​​ - which has patented a process that suppresses potassium chloride's metallic taste without requiring companies to add expensive flavor masking ingredients – and says consumer research shows that shoppers view ‘potassium salt’ more favorably than ‘potassium chloride.’

Petition is backed by food manufacturers and the CSPI, but opposed by The Salt Institute​

NuTek's petition is supported by the CSPI, the North American Meat Institute, the American Bakers Association, Unilever, Campbell Soup and several other manufacturers and retailers (including H.E.B.​ and 7-Eleven​), but opposed by The Salt Institute​​, which said it would open up a can of worms, given that scores of ingredients have 'chemical-sounding' names.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has also urged the FDA to ‘expedite evaluation’ of the petition in comments​​ on the agency's sodium reduction targets, adding:

“Manufacturers need to balance the desire to decrease salt and sodium content with the simultaneous consumer demand for fewer ‘chemical-sounding’ ingredients."​

Read more about NuTek's petition, to which the FDA has yet to issue a formal response, HERE​​​.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Replacement Isn't the Future. Variety Is.

Replacement Isn't the Future. Variety Is.

Content provided by ADM | 22-Mar-2024 | White Paper

Successfully navigating the intersection of food and technology can help your business meet evolving consumer demands.

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Consumer Attitudes on Ultra-Processed Foods Revealed

Content provided by Ayana Bio | 12-Jan-2024 | White Paper

Ayana Bio conducted the Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) Pulse survey, offering insight into consumers’ willingness to consume UPFs, as well as the variables...

Future Food-Tech San Francisco, March 21-22, 2024

Future Food-Tech San Francisco, March 21-22, 2024

Content provided by Rethink Events Ltd | 11-Jan-2024 | Event Programme

Future Food-Tech is the go-to meeting place for the food-tech industry to collaborate towards a healthier food system for people and planet.

Palate Predictions: Top Flavor Trends for 2024

Palate Predictions: Top Flavor Trends for 2024

Content provided by T. Hasegawa USA | 08-Jan-2024 | Application Note

As consumers seek increased value and experience from food and beverages, the industry relies on research to predict category trends. Studying trends that...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars