Major food companies contribute more than 50% of household dietary sodium purchases in Australia

Published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Coyle et al conducted a cross-sectional study to identify the relative contribution that food companies and their products made to Australian household sodium purchases in 2018, and to examine differences in sodium purchases by household income level. One year of grocery purchase data from a nationally-representative consumer panel of Australian households was combined with the nutrient data of the purchased packaged foods and beverages. The study found that out of 1,329 food companies, the top 10 accounted for 35% of unique products and contributed to 58% of all sodium purchased from packaged foods and beverages. Authors also found that low-income Australian households purchased more sodium from packaged products in comparison to high-income households. Authors concluded that given a small number of companies accounted for most of the sodium purchased, there is the potential to target efforts with these groups for the greatest impact. Read more here.