It’s time for ACTION on salt – World Salt Awareness Week (WSAW), 4-10th March

The theme set by World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) for 2019 WSAW was ACTION. This theme emphasised the need to act given the unacceptably high burden of unnecessary ill health and death due to high salt intakes. WASH and supporters called for action from governments, food industry, health charities and non-governmental organisations, and […]

Sodium Levels of Processed Meat in Australia: Supermarket Survey Data from 2010 to 2017

A study by Sparks et al assessed the sodium levels of processed meat products in Australian supermarkets and changes over time. Overall, they found a reduction in sodium levels in processed meats for which the government had established voluntary sodium target’s under the Food and Health Dialogue, and no change for other processed meats. They determined […]

Contribution of fat, sugar and salt to diets in the Pacific Islands: a systematic review

A systematic review by Santos et al has investigated the contribution of fat, salt and sugar to diets in Pacific Island countries. Authors searched both electronic and grey (unpublished) literature, finding 31 studies that provided relevant information on fat (n=22), salt (n=14) and sugar (n=17). A range of assessment methods were used, including absolute intake, household […]

Science of Salt: Paucity of high quality studies reporting on salt and health outcomes

A review by Petersen et al aimed to identify, summarize, and critically appraise studies on dietary salt and health outcomes that were published from April 2017 to March 2018. Overall, 6747 citations and 42 health outcome studies were identified. Three of the 42 studies met the criteria for methodological quality and health outcomes and underwent […]

Science of Salt: High sodium intake increases blood pressure and risk of kidney disease

A review by Malta et al aimed to identify, summarize, and critically appraise studies on dietary salt and health outcomes that were published from August 2016 to March 2017. The search strategy was adapted from a previous systematic review on dietary salt and health. Studies that meet standards for methodological quality criteria and eligible health […]

Presentations at the International Society of Hypertension in Beijing

Presentation of results Beijing

Two PhD candidates from the WHO CC team recently presented their research at the 27th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension in Beijing, China. Kathy Trieu presented findings on mean 24-hr urinary salt excretion in two regions of Kazakhstan. These populations had extremely high salt intakes, possibly the highest in the world. The […]

Label v. Lab: How do sodium values compare?

Lab measurements

A study by Ahuja et al compared the sodium values on product labels with laboratory values of popular sodium-contributing foods in the US. The comparative analysis of 114 foods (1,390 composites, consisting of one or more samples of the same food) showed that a majority of label and laboratory values were in agreement. Periodic monitoring […]

Web based learning improves salt-smarts in children (Victoria, Australia)

Grimes CA et al conducted a study investigating the efficacy of a digital education program on salt reduction in 83 children (mean age= 9yrs). The intervention included weekly interactive online sessions, conducted over 5-weeks. Surveys on knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KABs) were conducted pre and post intervention with a 24-hr urine collection taken to estimate […]