News & Press Releases

Thursday 15 May 2003

Publication of the Salt and Health Report of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) today issued a report which concludes that the evidence for a direct association between salt intake and high blood pressure has increased since this issue was last considered by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA), eight years ago. High blood pressure is a serious public health problem and raises the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. SACN concluded that reducing the population average intake of salt would help to reduce high blood pressure and therefore contribute to lowering the burden of cardiovascular disease.

On average, people consume 9g of salt per day. SACN have recommended that consumption of salt should be reduced by one-third to no more than 6g per day for adults. For the first time recommendations on salt intake have been set for children depending on their age. These are:

  • less than1g per day for infants aged 0-6 months
  • 1g per day for infants aged 7-12 months
  • 2g per day for 1-3 year olds
  • 3g per day for 4-6 year olds
  • 5g per day for 7-10 year olds
  • 6g per day for11-14 year olds

A substantial reduction in the current average salt intake of the population is required to achieve the recommended levels of intake for adults and children.

The report reinforces current advice from the Food Standards Agency and UK Health Departments that people should consume a healthy balanced diet that is rich in fruit, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, low in fat, and containing no more than 6g of salt per day. As 75% of salt intake is from processed foods, a reduction of salt levels in processed foods is necessary to make a significant impact on average population intakes. Food labels should preferably include information about the amount of salt as well as sodium in the product to help consumers make healthy choices (1g of sodium is equivalent to 2.55g of salt).

Notes for editors

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition was asked by the Food Standards Agency and the Chief Medical Officer of Wales to review the evidence since 1994 and to also consider making recommendations for children. The Salt Subgroup of SACN was established in October 2001 and had its first meeting in January 2002. Over a 1-year period, the Subgroup considered over 180 studies.

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