As reported on this blog previously, comments on a citizen petition from NuTek Food Science, LLC requesting that FDA recognize “potassium salt” as an alternate name for potassium chloride were due last month. Campbell Soup Company and more than 15 other companies and organizations submitted comments supporting the petition. Among the reasons provided by the commenters to allow the use of “potassium salt” on ingredient labels were: (1) consumers want clean labels, and (2) potassium chloride is used as a replacement for sodium chloride, is naturally occurring, and offers health benefits.

Campbell Soup’s comments summarized the results of a consumer research study that it conducted, reportedly finding that:

• Significantly more consumers were concerned about having an ingredient called “potassium chloride” in their soups compared to “potassium salt”

• Consumers said they were significantly more likely to purchase a soup that contained “potassium salt” over “potassium chloride”

As a result of the research, Campbell Soup concluded, “… permitting this alternative name would support companies in their efforts to decrease the sodium content of foods, while also encouraging consumers to increase their intake of potassium, an underconsumed nutrient of public health concern, which also has a beneficial impact on blood pressure.”

Only the Salt Institute and an anonymous source submitted comments urging FDA to reject NuTek’s petition. (The comments submitted in response to this citizen petition can be found in Docket No. FDA-2016-P-1826 at regulations.gov.)

FDA’s approval of the petition could encourage other ingredient manufacturers to request the use of less “chemical-sounding” name for additional ingredients.