The American Heart Association issued the following statement in response to the final rule on school nutrition standards issued yesterday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The rule eliminates the final sodium target, decreases the amount of whole grains, and allows 1 percent flavored milk in school meals.

Changes to school meals proposed this week by the Trump administration are getting praised by school nutritionists and slammed by health experts. Among other things, the interim final rule released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows schools to avoid reducing sodium levels in breakfasts and lunches – a mandate introduced by former President Barack Obama. Sodium reduction was to take place in stages through the year 2022.

“The nutrition and tobacco riders tucked into this bill are a serious setback to the strong progress we’ve made on these issues to benefit the health of the public. This legislation fails everyone when it comes to nutrition."

For the estimated one in three Americans who will develop high blood pressure, a - diet high in sodium may be to blame.

Nearly all Americans consume much more sodium than they should, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Americans are eating too much sodium, and something must be done about it. That's the response of the American Heart Association (AHA) to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that 98% of Americans in high risk groups -- like African-Americans and those with hypertension, diabetes and chronic disease -- are consuming more than the 1500 mg of salt they should be limiting themselves to.