How low can we go

According to new evidence published by the Food Standards Agency, the average daily salt consumption has fallen by almost 1g per day since 2000. This is thought to be thanks in part to the FSA’s awareness-raising campaign about the dangers of eating too much salt, along with reduction of salt in many processed foods by the food industry.

The target for daily salt consumption is 6g (for adults) so there’s still a way to go from the current average of 8.6g. High levels of salt in your diet increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. The FSA believes that reducing salt intake to 6g a day could prevent as many as 20,000 premature deaths a year.

Try to reduce your levels by not adding salt during cooking or at the table, and using herbs and spices to add flavour. However, around three-quarters of the salt we eat is in processed foods, so check food labels and choose lower salt options.