FDA Aims to Reduce Sodium Intake by 20%

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance for Phase II of its sodium reduction strategy, which aims to cut the sodium consumption of Americans by 20% within a three-year timeframe, bringing the average intake down to 2,750 mg per day. The FDA’s efforts align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend a daily sodium intake limit of 2,300 mg for individuals aged 14 and older. Prior to 2021, the average sodium consumption was approximately 3,400 mg per day, according to the FDA.

The Phase II sodium reduction goals aim to achieve a balance between gradually lowering sodium levels in food and acknowledging the technical and market limitations of sodium reformulation. The FDA’s draft guidance outlines both target mean sodium concentrations and upper-bound limits for various food categories. The plan allows for a gradual reduction, ensuring that consumers have time to adjust to lower sodium levels in their diets.

The FDA introduced its Phase I strategy in October 2021, and preliminary findings from 2022 revealed that approximately 40% of the Phase I sodium reduction goals were either close to being met or had already been achieved, according to the FDA. The Phase I initiative encouraged the reduction of sodium in various processed, packaged, and prepared foods, acknowledging that more than 70% of sodium consumption in the US comes from sodium added during food manufacturing and commercial food preparation. Phase II will continue along similar lines.

Alongside its sodium reduction efforts, the FDA is also advancing other nutrition-focused initiatives, including a final rule update on the definition of the term “healthy,” a proposed front-of-package nutrition labeling rule, and efforts to reduce added sugars in foods. These initiatives are part of a larger, government-wide approach aimed at alleviating diet-related chronic diseases and promoting health equity.

The public is invited to comment on the draft sodium reduction guidance until November 14, 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register on August 16.