Sodium Guidelines: Reading Food Labels
The “reduced salt” label identifies a food that has been reduced in sodium content by more than 25% but still might not be truly low in sodium. Food labels that read “sodium free”, “very low sodium”, and “low sodium” more accurately identify low sodium foods.
Sodium Guidelines Set by the FDA
| Terms | Sodium Amount |
|---|---|
|
“Sodium Free” |
Less than 5 milligrams per serving |
|
“Very low sodium” |
35 milligrams or less per serving |
|
“Low sodium” |
140 milligrams or less per serving |
|
“Reduced Sodium” |
Usual sodium level is reduced by 25% |
|
“Unsalted, no-salt-added, or without added salt” |
Made without the salt that is normally used, but contains the sodium that is a natural part of the food itself. |
Steps to Reading Food Labels
• Identify the serving size (especially since products often contain more than one serving)
• Read the amount of sodium per serving since nutrition amounts are usually calculated per serving
• You will need to calculate the total amount of sodium in all the servings eaten
How much sodium is contained in a full cup of the following?
Answer:
1. Serving size here is ½ cup.
2. Sodium content per serving is 150mg.
3. If you eat a whole cup then you will be eating 300mg of sodium (150mg for each ½ cup serving or 150mg X 2 servings = 300mg).
