NEW YORK (AP) -- Sixteen food companies have agreed to reduce salt in everything from ketchup to rice as part of a national effort to cut America's sodium consumption by 20 percent.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the companies' plans on Monday. The food manufacturers included H.J. Heinz Co., Starbucks, Kraft Foods Inc. and the Subway sandwich chain.
A Heinz official says the company will cut sodium by 15 percent in all ketchup it sells in the U.S. by May 1.
An official for Mars Inc. says the company plans to cut sodium by 25 percent from Uncle Ben's flavored rice products. The agreements would cut salt from 65 products and 25 restaurant meals.
Bloomberg and federal officials have encouraged food companies to cut back on salt.
