Determining food industry compliance to mandatory sodium limits: successes and challenges from the South African experience

Abstract

AbstractObjective:To provide an update on the compliance to the Na reduction regulation (R.214) and to highlight some challenges and successes experienced by South Africa in the implementation of a mandatory Na regulation.Design:The study design was observational. Nutritional information of packaged food (specified in the R.214 regulation) was collected between February 2019 and September 2020, before and after the implementation date of the final Na targets in the regulation. Six supermarket chains that accounted for more than 50 % of the grocery retailer market share in South Africa were included. The Na content (per 100 g) of products was extracted from photographs. Products were classified according to the thirteen food categories included in R.214. The percentage of targeted food categories that met the pre and post-regulation targets as well as the percentage by which Na limits were exceeded was calculated.Setting:Low-and-middle-income suburbs in Cape Town, South Africa.Participants:N/A.Results:A total number of 3278 products were analysed. After the final implementation date, none of the categories targeted by the R.214 regulation fully complied. However, nine out of the thirteen food categories targeted by R.214 were above the 70 % compliance mark.Conclusions:The compliance to R.214 in South Africa is good, although not 100 % compliant. This research also highlights the complexities regarding the monitoring and evaluation of a national regulation. Findings from the current study could aid by providing valuable information to countries in the process of implementing a Na reduction strategy.