90 per cent of Americans consume too much salt

NINETY per cent of Americans eat too much salt every day, and the top food offenders include cheeseburgers, pizza, bread, deli meat and potato chips, US health officials said on Tuesday.

The average American eats about 3,300 milligrammes of sodium per day, and that does not include salt added from the shaker on the table, said the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Vital Signs report.

US guidelines recommend less than 2,300 milligrammes per day. High risk populations including African-Americans, people 51 and older and those with with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease should stick to 1,500 milligrammes daily.

"Too much sodium raises blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke," said CDC director Thomas Frieden. "These diseases kill more than 800,000 Americans each year and contribute an estimated US$273b in health care costs."

Some 65 per cent of Americans' sodium comes from food sold in stores, and 25 per cent comes from meals in restaurants. The CDC urged people to check labels for salt content, eat more fresh vegetables without sauce, and lessen processed foods. AFP