Hi Cicero.  You have a point there about preservatives, something I had never thought about. Especially to bulk items.

I have to disagree with you though on the " benefits of using salt as a preservative far out weighs some of the health risks related to salt".  Many of the elderly have weakened hearts.  The impact of water retention, edema on them is serious. I believe that is why the study is focused on the elderly.

The benefit of salt used as preservatives is probably the number one or number two(refrigeration) reason we don't have people staving in the streets.  Food is relatively affordable.  With extended shelf life, food manufacturers can make tons and tons of food at a low cost.

Many of the elderly may have weak hearts, but without salt preservatives many(especially the poor) may have never lived long enough to become elderly.  Hence, the health benefits of low cost food, out weigh the health risks later in life.

The findings of this study by the government will only tell us what free markets already know.  Low sodium food without preservatives is EXPENSIVE.  If you think nursing home costs are high now, wait until the government mandate nursing homes only serve unpreserved non-processed fresh foods.

There are costs related to everything.  The markets usually figure that out pretty quickly.  When are we going to realize that these BS government studies only re-affirm what the markets already know.

This is one of the most ridiculous waste of taxpayers money! For decades, hospitals and nursing homes have been able to provide low salt/salt free diets to patients who required it. (even fat-free diets) For decades there have been low/no salt products available at your local super market. There are entire aisles dedicated to low/no salt products. Not to mention.....just avoid the salt shaker!! DUH!

Dieticians also know that if someone is on a salt restrictive diet......fluid intake should also be restricted. Is there a grant for 'fluids' also?

Now, dieticians are 'trained' to know how to prepare and dole out food that contain either no salt or low salt. Where is schenectady counties dietician? Is he/she/they not educated in 'restrictive diets'? Do they honestly not have one?

It's an outrage and a totally waste of Federal funds. Every hospital/nursing home has a nutritionist. They don't need some uneducated County lob looking over their shoulder. This money will be totally flushed down the DEM toilet with absolutely no benefit to the average County resident.

      It's about time the entire Schenectady County Health Department was examined by the TU. The TU is the only media outlet doing any investigative journalism. The moronic comment about "Seniors over 65" sums up the total stupidity of this agency. They excel in only one area-covering each other up.

Quoted from bumblethru

This is one of the most ridiculous waste of taxpayers money! For decades, hospitals and nursing homes have been able to provide low salt/salt free diets to patients who required it. (even fat-free diets) For decades there have been low/no salt products available at your local super market. There are entire aisles dedicated to low/no salt products. Not to mention.....just avoid the salt shaker!! DUH!

Dieticians also know that if someone is on a salt restrictive diet......fluid intake should also be restricted. Is there a grant for 'fluids' also?

Now, dieticians are 'trained' to know how to prepare and dole out food that contain either no salt or low salt. Where is schenectady counties dietician? Is he/she/they not educated in 'restrictive diets'? Do they honestly not have one?

Yet -- some hospitals and nursing homes  (even those privately owned) are notorious for serving  high
salt and high fat foods to patients ... even those with heart problems.     There are at least 3 privately
run nursing homes in Schenectady County and 1 privately run nursing home in Saratoga County that I
know by experience serve nothing but  high fat, high salt, and sugary foods to their residents.  And all 3
have well-paid dieticians on their staff.

The reason being that these high fat, high salt and high-sugar foods are CHEAP to buy and easy to fix
... and the owners can pocket the difference in profits.

When will Angelo push for a ban on salt in the food in the county, or have it listed next to the calories on your menu choices when you go out?

Great idea -- EVERY restaurant in the county should have nutritional information on their menus ...

Great idea Kevin ... I will tell the folks at the County Legislature that you are 1000% behind this.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Great idea -- EVERY restaurant in the county should have nutritional information on their menus ...

Great idea Kevin ... I will tell the folks at the County Legislature that you are 1000% behind this.

I never said I was behind it.  I said this is the type of nanny government that this county pushes for.  I only brought up Mr. Santabarbara, as he's the one that sold out his old party and went from conservative to full-out lib in 1 day, and has been going strong since.

Quoted from Kevin March

I never said I was behind it.  I said this is the type of nanny government that this county pushes for.  I only brought up Mr. Santabarbara, as he's the one that sold out his old party and went from conservative to full-out lib in 1 day, and has been going strong since.

No - he went from being a Republican to a Democrat -- not all Democrats are liberal.

Republicans like to tell BIG LIES  .... like you just did ... luckily there are folks like me who will
knock down the  GOP lies before anyone believes them

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

No - he went from being a Republican to a Democrat -- not all Democrats are liberal.

Republicans like to tell BIG LIES  .... like you just did ... luckily there are folks like me who will
knock down the  GOP lies before anyone believes them

Tell me what was a lie that I said.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Yet -- some hospitals and nursing homes  (even those privately owned) are notorious for serving  high
salt and high fat foods to patients ... even those with heart problems.     There are at least 3 privately
run nursing homes in Schenectady County and 1 privately run nursing home in Saratoga County that I
know by experience serve nothing but  high fat, high salt, and sugary foods to their residents.  And all 3
have well-paid dieticians on their staff.

The reason being that these high fat, high salt and high-sugar foods are CHEAP to buy and easy to fix
... and the owners can pocket the difference in profits.

Please tell us exactly what hospitals and exactly what nursing homes serve high salt and high fat foods against their doctors orders! Are you implying that even though a doctor writes an order for a patient stating 'no salt'.....the hospital or nursing home gives them salt against the doctors orders??

Sorry....but I would call that a lie straight from hell....UNLESS you can prove the names of each hospital/nursing home and the patient/resident. I will personally call them directly to confirm these allegations.

  And if what you are saying should be true.....were their charges filed? Were they reported to all applicable insurance companies? Was this corrected? How long ago did this alleged crime take place? Did anyone die?

More unproven BS. DV won't name any hospitals or nursing homes because he knows that he'll find himself in court defending his false allegations. In August when my Mom was in Ellis Hospital with pneumonia I ordered something for her off the menu that she wanted and was told by the people handling the menu that she couldn't have that choice because the meal wasn't on the cardiac menu.

Quoted from Kevin March

Tell me what was a lie that I said.

that Angelo went to being  "full out lib"  ...

again -- you folks need to let it sink in -- not all Democrats are liberals

Quoted from bumblethru

Please tell us exactly what hospitals and exactly what nursing homes serve high salt and high fat foods against their doctors orders! Are you implying that even though a doctor writes an order for a patient stating 'no salt'.....the hospital or nursing home gives them salt against the doctors orders??

Sorry....but I would call that a lie straight from hell....UNLESS you can prove the names of each hospital/nursing home and the patient/resident. I will personally call them directly to confirm these allegations.

  And if what you are saying should be true.....were their charges filed? Were they reported to all applicable insurance companies? Was this corrected? How long ago did this alleged crime take place? Did anyone die?

The statements that I made are 100% true ... I personally witnessed the patients being served high fat
foods,  salty foods, and sugary foods.    
You would just love for me to be stupid enough to name names -- but rest assured that everyone of those
places has payed fines or been reprimanded because of their actions.

bull$hit