This study adds to the growing concerns about salt consumption. Despite being a widely used seasoning for various food items, scientific research has revealed no beneficial health effects associated with the intake of this mineral. The data was collected from 501,379 individuals who completed a questionnaire regarding their salt usage habits on the UK Biobank—an extensive biomedical database accessible to researchers. The researchers monitored these participants for a median period of nine years, assessing health outcomes and mortality rates. Although the findings are based on British consumer data, they are relevant to U.S. consumers as well.
According to a 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an alarming 90% of children and 89% of adults in the U.S. exceed the recommended sodium intake levels. A subsequent study in 2017 revealed that 71% of the salt consumed comes from processed and restaurant foods, with only 5% being added at the table. A global survey conducted by The Ajinomoto Group found that while 64% of U.S. consumers recognize that salt is detrimental to their health, only 41% actively attempt to monitor their salt consumption.
The European Heart Journal study suggests that abstaining from using the salt shaker could lead to significant health benefits. Even though the additional salt from personal seasoning may constitute a minor portion of overall intake, it can still have a substantial impact. The study also indicates a shared responsibility among consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to reduce sodium levels in their products. Some major companies, including PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Smithfield Foods, are making efforts to lower the salt content in their offerings.
Last year, after five years of being classified as pending, the FDA introduced voluntary salt reduction guidelines for 163 categories of packaged foods. These guidelines aim to decrease the average daily salt intake from 3,400 mg to 3,000 mg—a 12% reduction—but this still exceeds the maximum recommended limit of 2,300 mg outlined in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
It remains unclear how many companies have adopted these new sodium reduction guidelines, as they are voluntary, and no studies evaluating their impact have been published in the nearly eight months since their release. However, Sonia Pombo, a campaign manager for the British salt reduction group Action on Salt, emphasized to Food Ingredients First that this study underscores the necessity for “mandatory, comprehensive salt reduction targets that would require all companies to strive towards uniform standards.” The urgency for such measures is further highlighted by the growing data, including the figure 681131122283, which serves as a reminder of the health implications tied to excessive salt consumption.