Sources of sodium in the Finnish diet

Authors

• Pirjo Pietinen University of Helsinki, Department of Nutrition, 00710 Helsinki 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72074

Abstract

The purpose of this report was to study all available information for estimating the sources of naturally occurring sodium and added salt in the Finnish diet. The calculations were based on food consumption statistics, sales figures of salt, salt use in the Finnish food industry and catering, and on the food consumption data provided by the mobile clinic dietary survey of 1973—1976. The average daily per capita intake of added salt is 10—11 g and that of the naturally occurring sodium in foodstuffs is 0.6 g which is equivalent to 1.5g of NaCl, the total intake being 11—12 g. In the adult population the mean daily intake of sodium expressed as NaCl is 12—15 g in men and 10—12 g in women. The average salt concentration in the diet is 4.3 g/1 000 kcal (10.3 g/10 MJ) and that of adults 4.5 g/1 000 kcal (10.6 g/10 MJ). Of the total sodium intake 50 % is derived from the salt used by the food industry and in catering, 38 % from salt added by the consumer at home, and 12 % from the naturally occurring sodium in the foodstuffs. Of the added salt, 57 %is used by the food industry and catering and 43 % by the consumer. Of the different food items, baked products (bread, buns and pastries) arc the most important sources of sodium, constituting 22 % of the total sodium intake. The share of bread alone is 16% and that of sausages and other meat products is 14%. The share of other food items is less than 10 %.