Kraft Foods to cut sodium in more than 1,000 products

Kraft Foods Inc. plans to reduce sodium by an average of 10 percent over the next two years for brands including Oscar Mayer and Velveeta.

The move follows similar efforts by Campbell Soup Co. and ConAgra Foods Inc. Kraft, based in Northfield, Ill., is cutting salt levels in more than 1,000 products, Susan Davison, a spokeswoman, said yesterday by telephone.

Sodium levels in Oscar Mayer bologna are to be reduced by 17 percent. Some flavors of Easy Mac Cups, microwavable macaroni and cheese with as much as 29 percent of the daily sodium intake recommended by the Food and Drug Administration, are to see a drop of 20 percent.

"It's good for consumers, and, if done properly, it's good for business," Rhonda Jordan, Kraft's president of health and wellness, said. "A growing number of consumers are concerned about their sodium intake and we want to help them translate their intentions into actions."

Some products, like Grey Poupon mustard and Crystal Light beverages, will not be changed because they are already low in sodium, Davison said. A serving of Grey Poupon Dijon mustard has 5 percent of the FDA's recommended daily intake of sodium, according to the company's Web site. - Bloomberg News