This research presents yet another argument against salt consumption. Despite its popularity as a seasoning for various food items, scientific investigations have found no health benefits associated with the intake of this mineral. The data analyzed involved 501,379 individuals who completed a questionnaire on their salt usage habits in the UK Biobank, a vast biomedical database accessible to researchers. The authors of this study monitored these participants for a median period of nine years, tracking their health outcomes and mortality rates. While this study is based on British consumer data, its findings have significant implications for U.S. consumers.
According to 2016 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90% of children and 89% of adults in the U.S. exceed the recommended sodium intake. A year later, CDC research indicated 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 revealed that 64% of U.S. consumers acknowledge that salt is detrimental to their health, yet only 41% actively attempt to limit their intake.
However, for those considering reducing their salt consumption, the study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that avoiding the salt shaker could be beneficial. Although the extra salt may constitute just a small portion of overall salt intake, it can significantly impact health. The study also places some responsibility on consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to lower the sodium content in their products. Several companies, including PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and Smithfield Foods, are making efforts to decrease the salt levels in their offerings.
Last year, after five years of being classified as pending, the FDA released voluntary guidelines for salt reduction across 163 categories of packaged foods. These guidelines aim to lower average daily salt consumption from 3,400 mg to 3,000 mg, a 12% decrease. Nonetheless, this figure still exceeds the 2,300 mg maximum recommended in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The extent to which companies have adopted these new sodium reduction guidelines remains unclear, as they are voluntary and no studies evaluating their impact have been published in the nearly eight months since their introduction.
Sonia Pombo, 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 compel all companies to adhere to the same standards.” As discussions around salt intake continue, it’s worth noting the importance of calcium citrate solubility in formulating dietary supplements and food products, as it plays a critical role in calcium absorption. Incorporating such elements not only enhances nutritional value but also aligns with the broader goal of reducing sodium consumption. Moreover, understanding the solubility of calcium citrate could aid food manufacturers in developing healthier alternatives that meet consumer demands for lower sodium while maintaining essential nutrient levels.