Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Sodium Reduction

The Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Sodium Reduction (also referred to as the Sodium Working Group) includes representatives from food manufacturing and food service industry groups, health-focused non-governmental organizations, the scientific community, consumer advocacy groups, health professional organizations and government. The Sodium Working Group is chaired by a representative of Health Canada with the support of a steering committee made up of a vice-chair from the scientific community, and a member each from the food industry and a health-focussed non-governmental organization.

Health Canada provides secretariat, technical and logistical support to the Working Group as well as providing this webpage to communicate its activities.

Each stakeholder organization was invited to submit one or two nominees to participate in the Working Group. Members of the Working Group were appointed, based on nominations put forward by the participating organizations from all the various sectors, to ensure a mix of disciplines, skill sets and perspectives. Consideration was also given to geographical representation. Terms of Reference have also been established for this working group.

The Working Group has met on several occasions to establish a common knowledge base and to develop strategies for reducing dietary sodium consumption among Canadians. Reports from the meetings and teleconferences that have taken place to date can be found below. The SWG will submit their Sodium Reduction Strategy in July 2010.

Further updates on the progress of the Working Group will continue to be posted on this site.

Sodium Reduction Strategy

• Backgrounder
• News Release
• Strategy Report

Meeting Reports:

• May 25-26, 2010
• Meeting - February 24-26, 2010
• Meeting - December 3-4, 2009
• Summary of Food Industry Meetings November 24 to December 2, 2009.
• Meeting - September 28-29, 2009
• Meeting - May 13-14, 2009
• Meeting - February 20, 2009
• Consultation session of the Multi-stakeholder Working Group on Dietary Sodium Reduction - February 19, 2009
  • Report on Stakeholder and Expert Perspectives on Dietary Sodium Reduction in Canada
• First Working Group Teleconference - February 22, 2008
• Meeting - May 23, 2008
• Teleconference - November 24, 2008

Related Resources

• Health Canada’s Sodium Main Page