Salt reduction not a priority for UK consumers, finds LoSalt survey
Talking to FoodNavigator at Food Matters Live in London, Caroline Klinge, sales and marketing manager for LoSalt, said the results of the survey surprised her.
“75% of consumers don’t know that their recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of salt is 6 g/day and a quarter of people surveyed are not actively trying to reduce their salt," she said.
“When we asked consumers how they are making their food choices last year they prioritised fat content, salt second, sugar third, followed by calories, artificial ingredients, preservatives. This year however they are going fat then sugar and then salt."
In 2006 when the Food Standards Agency launched its salt reduction campaign, UK consumers had an average daily intake of salt of nine grams. The aim was to reduce it to six grams by 2017.
“After all the efforts we still have loads of work to do only being at 8.1 grams of salt a day. That’s 0.9 grams reduction in eight years. So something has to be happening at grassroots level,” said Klinge.
‘Consumers are confused’
UK consumers said they were not seeking dietary advice from the primary care sector but rather media outlets and friends.
“Because there's so many different messages going out there, they are overwhelmed and they are confused,” said Klinge.
LoSalt is a retail product, a reduced-sodium salt alternative with a blend of 1/3 regular salt and 2/3 potassium chloride.
