CDC Report Says 90 Percent of Americans Consume Too Much Sodium

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dedicated its February 2012 issue of Vital Signs to reducing population salt intake, claiming that nine out of 10 Americans ages 2 years or older consume more sodium than recommended for a healthy diet. Noting that too much dietary sodium can result in high blood pressure leading to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, CDC reports that the average adult consumes approximately 3,300 milligrams daily, some 1,000 mg more than the recommended amount for adults.

According to Vital Signs, approximately 65 percent of dietary sodium comes from processed foods bought in retail stores and approximately 25 percent from foods prepared in restaurants. More than 40 percent is reportedly linked to “breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats such as deli or packaged ham or turkey, pizza, fresh and processed poultry, soups, sandwiches such as cheeseburgers, cheese, pasta dishes [not including macaroni and cheese, which is its own category], meat mixed dishes such as meat loaf with tomato sauce, and snacks such as chips, pretzels, and popcorn.” Observing that different brands of the same foods may have different sodium levels, the report calls for food producers and restaurants to offer more low-sodium options.