Australian sodium guidelines inadequate protection against heart attack and stroke, expert says

WHO food scientist says relying on voluntary measures to reduce salt in the country’s food supply is not enough

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Australia’s voluntary food formulation guidelines are inadequate at preventing diet-related diseases such as heart attack and stroke, a World Health Organization food scientist has said.

Dr Luz Maria De Regil made the comments off the back of a study published in the journal The Lancet Public Health on Thursday, which found making Australian Health Food Partnership sodium limits compulsory could prevent more than 12,700 heart disease cases, 9,400 kidney disease cases and 800 deaths within a decade.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email