The aim of the campaign is to reduce salt intake by 16% by 2019, Jelakovic.
Research has shown that the average daily intake of salt in Croatia is 11.6 grams - 10.2 grams for women and 13.3 grams for men. Experts estimate that a 3-gram reduction of salt a day or the equivalent of half a teaspoon, could reduce heart attacks in 1,700 to 3,500 cases and cut the incidence of strokes by 2,800 to 5,500 cases, which would mean that 4,000 fewer people would die annually.
According to the doctor's explanation, daily intake of 2 grams of salt is essential to the normal functioning of the human body, and the World Health Organisation recommends that adults consume less than 5 g (just under a teaspoon) of salt per day.
"Salt intake of less than 5 grams per day for adults helps to reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart attack. The principal benefit of lowering salt intake is a corresponding reduction in high blood pressure. WHO Member States have agreed to reduce the global population’s intake of salt by a relative 30% by 2025," according to information on the WHO web site.
Jelakovic went on to say that "bread and bakery products are the main source of excessive salt intake in the population", although 10% of the population is not aware that higher salt consumption can be connected with bread and bakery products.
The Croatian Food Agency joined the campaign through intensive cooperation and negotiations with the bakery industry. The Agriculture Ministry in 2015 prepared a regulation on wheat products specifying that the share of salt in bread should not be more than 1.4%.
In Croatia, 37% of the population (that is approximately more than a third of the Croatians) suffer from high blood pressure.