Jamaica’s growing crisis with non-communicable diseases has a direct correlation with what people are eating every day. High salt consumption is one of the key factors driving hypertension, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), two out of every three Jamaicans, on an average, consume 3.6 grams of sodium daily, which is well above the World Health Organization prescribed guideline of two grams per day. As a result, 73 per cent of Jamaican men and 60.7 per cent of women consume excessive sodium levels. The ministry’s Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey reported that roughly one in three Jamaicans is hypertensive, and many are unaware of this condition.

Cardiologist Dr Andrene Chung blames processed foods for the recurring problem. In an article in this newspaper, she identified corned beef, sausages, salted fish, instant noodles, seasoning blends, soy sauce, ketchup and packaged snacks – commonly consumed items, being deeply embedded in daily diets. Data from World Heart Federation Observatory shows that 47.8 per cent of Jamaican women and 44.5 per cent of men are hypertensive.