Children Consume More Salt Than Recommended, Says CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a
September 2014 Vital Signs report claiming that nine in 10 U.S. children “eat
more sodium than recommended.” Noting that children ages 6-18 years
consume an average of 3,300 mg sodium per day, CDC estimates that 43
percent of children’s daily sodium intake “comes from just 10 common food
types: pizza; bread and rolls; cold cuts and cured meats; sandwiches like
cheeseburgers; snacks, such as chips; cheese; chicken patties, nuggets, and
tenders; pasta mixed dishes, such as spaghetti with sauce; Mexican mixed
dishes, such as burritos and tacos; and soup.”

The agency is urging the federal government to apply new nutrition standards
that aim to halve the sodium content of some foods served in schools
by 2022. It also asks food manufacturers to replace sodium “with alternatives
like spices, herbs, and vegetables,” and to gradually reduce the sodium
content of their products. “Most sodium is already in food before you buy it or
order it,” notes CDC. “About 65% comes from store foods, 13% from fast food
and pizza restaurant foods, and 9% from school cafeteria foods.”