The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (NDA) has issued an opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Sodium, warning that salt increases blood pressure, a major risk factor in heart disease and premature death.
The panel stated that althoufh sodium is an essential nutrient, most Europeans’ daily intake of sodium (8-11g) far exceeds the daily recommended allowance of 1.5g. The major sources of sodium in diet are processed foods (70-75%), naturally occuring sodium in unprocessed food (10-15%) and the addition of salt during cooking or at the table (10-15%). Hence, processed foods are both the major source of salt in a person’s diet, and the factor which individuals are least able to control.
The main health effect of too much sodium is high blood pressure, which is ’an acknowledged risk factor for ischaemic heart disease, stroke and renal disease which are major causes of morbidity and mortality in Europe’.
The danger for children of eating too much salt is particularly great because of the impact throughout life. The EFSA report noted that studies indicate that if children’s blood pressure increases due to excess intake of salt the pressure levels can remain high later in life, even when salt intake is reduced.
In addition the panel points out that, although sodium is not carcinogenic in itself, high intake levels may increase suceptibility to carcinogens, leading to e.g. stomach cancer.
As to the recommended level of sodium intake the panel said it was not possible to identify a level above the daily recommended intake (1.5g) which is unlikely to pose risks, e.g ; safe. It also said that there was insufficient information to establish a Tolerable Upper Intake Level for Salt.
For more information, Consensus Action on Salt and Health - CASH has extensive scientific information about the negative impact of health of excess salt consumption.
