Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance announcing that the agency intends to exercise enforcement discretion to allow the use of “potassium chloride salt” as an alternative common or usual name for “potassium chloride.” Potassium chloride is often used as a partial substitute for sodium chloride (i.e., salt) to facilitate sodium reduction in foods. FDA therefore views today’s draft guidance as consistent with its multi-year Nutrition Innovation Strategy, which aims to reduce the burden of chronic disease through improved nutrition, as well as the agency’s efforts to encourage manufacturers to reduce sodium in foods in the interest of public health. FDA will accept comments on the draft guidance until July 19.
