According to the National campaign started by the New City Mayor Michael Bloomberg 16 U. S food companies pledging on Monday to cut salt levels in their products. Amongst 16 companies. Starbucks and Heinz and the other companies involved are Au Bon Pain, Freshdirect, Goya, Hain Celestial Group, Kraft, LiDestri, Mars Food US, McCain Foods, Red Gold Inc, Subway, Unilever, Uno Chicago Grill and White Rose. It may be noted that salt intake is a major cause of high blood pressure, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Bloomberg, in his third term as mayor, applauded the companies' voluntary goals, saying this was necessary to escape regulation from Washington. He said, ""I would rather have the flexibility to have some products low and some products high and meet the demands of the marketplace, but keep the government out of my business,". Mars Food announced on Monday that it will reduce sodium from 800 mg to 600 mg per serving of its flavored Uncle Ben's rice products.

Kraft spokesperson Valerie Moens said, "That means working toward a total average reduction across our North American business instead of specific targets in every category in which we compete," She also added that the company already had embarked on a "10 percent average sodium reduction across our North American portfolio over the next two years". It may be noted that the New York City Health Department reported that initiative targets restaurants and packaged food because only 11 percent of sodium in American diets is added by consumers and that nearly 80 percent is added to foods before they are sold.