Innovative regulatory approaches to reduce sodium consumption: could a cap-and-trade system work?

Many regulatory and professional organizations are calling for strict new regulations to reduce sodium consumption on a population basis. New regulations on sodium may have significant public health and economic impacts. This article explores five regulatory options to reduce sodium consumption: 1) maintaining the status quo, 2) improving risk communication and information, 3) revoking generally regarded as safe status of sodium and regulating its use in food products, 4) establishing a sodium tax, and 5) establishing a market-based, cap-and-trade system for sodium that builds on similar approaches in environmental regulatory policy. Cap-and-trade may be a promising regulatory option for sodium and other ingredients. (C) 2008 International Life Sciences Institute.