US consumers are paying increasing attention to the amount of salt they eat, new research has found.
According to Mintel, more than half of Americans – 52% – are monitoring the amount of sodium in their diets.
According to the Mintel Global New Product Database (GNPD), the number of reduced-sodium products introduced to the market has increased by 115% between 2005 and 2008.
“The rapidly rising evidence in the past several years points out sodium as a major cause of hypertension, osteoporosis, kidney damage and stomach cancer,” said David Lockwood, director of consumer insights at Mintel.
“Because of this scientific knowledge mixed with that of global health activists, there is a climate forming for rapid change. We are starting to see this information set into motion with a reduction in sodium on packaged goods and restaurant menus.”

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By GlobalDataAccording to Mintel, 22% of consumers restrict the salt they add to food. Some 18% say “food and beverages low in sodium are one of the three most important components of a healthy diet”, while 26% read labels for sodium and may make decisions based on this information.
However, 34% of consumers do not pay attention to sodium.