Study finds less salt in packaged foods, more can be done

A study published June 5 by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine, led by Dr. Jennifer Poti, found that Americans purchased less salt in packaged foods and beverages from 2000-2014 – but we’re still getting too much.

Sodium purchased by U.S. households from store-bought packaged foods and beverages dropped by 18% in the 15 years studied by the team. Details from the study were featured in several publications, including the Washington Times and Reuters, who quoted Dr. Poti:

“Households are getting less sodium form the grocery store, but I think it’s important to know sodium in packaged foods is still way too high,” said lead author Jennifer Poti, of the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “So we have a long way to go.”

Read a UNC press release here, or find the full journal article here.