Salt intake around the world
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High sodium intake results in elevated blood pressure, increasing
the risk of cardiovascular disease. In China, cardiovascular disease – which includes heart attack and stroke – now accounts for 40% of deaths
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Mean salt intake equivalent in adults (grams per day*) 

WHO recommended daily limit 5.0g

One teaspoon of salt = 5.7 grams

Barbados  6.6 
Samoa     7.3
England   8.1 
Canada    8.3
New Zealand  8.5 
United States  9.0
Australia  9.0 
India  9.1
Italy  9.7 
Benin  9.9
Portugal  10.5 
Montenegro  10.7
China 10.9
heart attack and stroke – now accounts for 40% of deaths

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Northern China: Salt intake has fallen from 12.8g a day in 1980s to 11.2g a day

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Food labels: Most pre-packed foods have colour-coded nutritional labels which show salt or sodium content in 100 grams of food

*Measured by 24-hour sodium excretion

        LOW     MEDIUM   HIGH
Salt   0-0.3g  0.3-1.5g  Above 1.5g
Sodium 0-0.1g  0.1-0.6g  Above 0.6g

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Source: Monique Tan et al., Queen Mary University of London
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