Hold the Salt Please: America's Challenge

Evidence for the relationship between sodium intake and high blood pressure in adults is strong. Although recommendations to decrease intake of sodium have existed over 40 years, national survey data has not shown substantial dietary change. In contrast to the sodium intake recommendation to limit consumption to 2300 mg per day, sodium intake of the U.S. population has remained around 3300 mg per day. Males have higher intakes than females and intakes vary by age. However, the amount of sodium per 1000 kcal is virtually the same for all age groups over two years. Salt is ubiquitous in the food supply. Although some foods contain a large amount of sodium per serving, foods that contain comparatively lower amounts of sodium per serving contribute substantially to total intake because they are consumed more frequently. Intense efforts are currently underway to implement environmental changes that will reduce sodium intake of the population. Using dietary data from What We Eat In America, NHANES 2007-2008, food categories that are contributing to sodium intake are identified. These data can be used by public health professionals to inform advocacy efforts and education initiatives for lowering sodium intake, and for monitoring changes in the intake of the population.