World Salt Awareness Week is marked from 16 to 22 March 2016.​

The theme for World Salt Awareness Week 2016 is 'Look out for Hidden Salt'. "The food we buy contains 75% of the salt that we eat," warns Mrs Irene Labuschagne, a dietitian at the Nutrition Information Centre at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University. "It is important to eat less processed and ready prepared food if you want to decrease your salt intake."

Evidence has shown that regularly eating too much salt puts us at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which is the main cause of strokes and a major cause of heart attacks and heart failures. These are the most common causes of death and illness in the world. 

According to Labuschagne three out of every ten South Africans have high blood pressure. "Food regulation is not enough to reduce South Africans' salt intake. Educating the public is crucial to successfully reducing salt intake," she says.

Many people unfortunately don't realise they are eating too much salt. The World Health Organisation recommends that adults eat less than 5g of salt (one teaspoon) per day.  However, a reduction of salt intake by just two grams a day will reduce your risk of cardiovascular events by 20%.

The main source of sodium is table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl). "Salt helps to regulate the body's fluid balance, but the amount we eat is far more than we require," she says. One teaspoon (5g) of salt contains approximately 2 000mg of sodium.

"People can make a key dietary change to help lower their risk," Labuschagne says. "Eat more fresh vegetables and fruit, which are naturally high in potassium and low in sodium. Bread, cheese and processed meat should be limited, as these and other processed foods are high in sodium and low in potassium."

"Thanks to efforts by the food industry, governments and health organisations like World Action on Salt and Health (WASH), salt is well and truly on the health agenda of many countries worldwide," says Labuschagne.

For more information on a low salt diet, including guidelines and practical tips on how to lower salt intake, click here for an information sheet.

Media enquiries:

Mandi BarnardMarketing Coordinator27 (0)21 938 9505 [email protected]Marketing and Communications OfficeFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch University

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