Processed foods contain an increasing amount of salt

MADRID – OCU, the principal Spanish consumer organization, recently carried out a study that revealed the presence of salt in 209 processed food items, and that the amount increases considerably since the previous such study in 2010: 6% on average. In only four years.  An excess in salt intake on a daily basis can lead to serious health problems, as we are told constantly. Among other things, and quite likely, according to the medical profession, is high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to  number of other complications. The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN in its Spanish acronym), points out that Spaniards consume double the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended amount, which is 5 grams for the general population. The study also reveals that 75% of the amount of salt we eat comes from processed foods.

Abusive practices by some car rental companies

MADRID – In cooperation with the British consumer organization Which?, one of Spain’s several similar organizations, Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios (better known by the acronym OCU), put together a campaign to denounce practices by part of the car rental business that are not in line with current legislation. The campaign was launched in mid-June, in time for the tourist season, these business peak time in Spain. One of these, according to OCU, is that some Rent-a-Cars oblige the customer to buy a full tank of petrol, without giving any details as to its price in the original offer, neither from the company nor in the final rental contract itself. Some of them who do show this detail charge for petrol at well over the market price.