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Colorado Health Summit Looks At Cutting Sodium

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- To reduce how much salt Coloradans are eating, the state health department is tweaking a program aimed at offering diners healthier options at restaurants.

"Sodium is a huge problem. We consume much more of it than we need and it is a leading cause of stroke and heart disease," said Dr. Lawrence Appel from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

The department's Smart Meal Seal program uses labels at participating restaurants to identify which menu options meet certain standards, including having less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium.

The health department said Wednesday that by the end of 2012, the sodium limit will be lowered to 1,200 milligrams.

The department made the announcement at its Summit on Sodium for manufacturers, restaurants, health departments and researchers to discuss how to reduce sodium in Coloradans' diets. Organizers say the $16,000 event was funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Leprino Foods, the number one maker of mozzarella, is on board with making their cheese healthier.

"We've done a lot of work on changing the ways we cool and brine the cheese so it doesn't take so much time, so it doesn't absorb as much salt," said Carolyn Cremer with Leprino Foods.

A number of food companies are working to help consumers reduce sodium, including Burger King, Sara Lee and Kraft.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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