FDA issues new sodium guidelines

Katherine Shagoury

October 15, 2021
Castorly Stock/Pexels

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  has issued new guidance for sodium content in commercially processed, packaged, and prepared foods, aiming to cut average salt intake by 12 percent.

More than 70 percent of total sodium intake is from sodium added during food manufacturing and commercial food preparation, FDA representatives said in a statement. Average sodium intake in the United States is approximately 3,400 milligrams per day. The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises individuals 14 years and older to limit their consumption to 2,300 milligrams per day.

The new guidance would aim to cut average salt intake down to 3,000 milligrams per day. While the agency said it recognizes this does not meet the threshold defined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, experts believe it is a good first step to address high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of all U.S. adults.

The guidance is open for public comment.

About the Author:

Katherine Shagoury

Katherine Shagoury

Katherine Shagoury is the editor of Integrative Practitioner. She brings a decade of experience creating and managing content for national healthcare audiences as a digital editor and professional journalist, including serving as managing editor for a popular medical billing and coding association and as a reporter for the Boston Globe, Boston.com, and USA Today. A certified personal trainer and nutrition coach with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a certified group fitness instructor with the Athletics and Fitness Association of America, a certified barre instructor, and a TRX qualified trainer, her passion for and commitment to healthy living fuels her enthusiasm for supporting the integrative healthcare community.

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