FSANZ disputes shock Australian salt intake claim

FSANZ says the majority of Australian adults are not exceeding its recommended maximum daily salt intake, following media reports that claim some Australians could be consuming 40g of salt a day – almost seven times the recommended max.

Salt (sodium chloride) has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and stroke. Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council recommends a maximum daily intake of 6g of salt (2.3g of sodium) for adults – although the Australian arm of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) puts the limit at 4g salt.

The food standards body says recent (unreferenced) media reports have suggested that Australians regularly consume as much as 40g of salt per day – but its new communication disputes this, saying the highest consumption it has calculated for an individual is 26g.

While the FSANZ admitted that some 34 per cent of people are consuming too much sodium, but it said that 95 per cent of Australians are consuming less than 8.5g of salt per day.