US regulators set new target to reduce salt in dozens of everyday foods

• FDA wants to cut average American's salt intake by 12%
• American Heart Association says guidelines not sufficient

Food companies in the US are coming under renewed pressure to use less salt after regulators set out new guidelines aimed at cutting the average person's intake by 12%, by reducing sodium levels in dozens of foods including condiments, cereal, french fries and potato chips.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday updated its guidelines for 163 foods, including those that are commercially processed, packaged and prepared. Over the next two and a half years, the FDA's target sodium levels aim to cut average intake from 3,400 to 3,000 milligrams a day.