World Salt Awareness Week is celebrated annually throughout the second week of March. Its goal is to reduce the intake of salt in people’s diets and improve the health of the planet’s population.

During World Salt Awareness Week, the WHO draws attention to five simple recommendations that will help to reduce salt consumption and bring down high blood pressure, which will substantially reduce the risk of brain stroke and heart diseases. High salt intake is one of the main causes of death in the WHO European Region.

We often consume a large amount of salt without even suspecting it, e.g., when we buy readymade food products or order food through delivery apps.

The WHO stresses the importance of reducing salt intake and proposes a series of practical measures that member states can adopt to implement a policy on reducing salt consumption among the population and improving the health and wellbeing of people.

Main facts

á High sodium consumption (more than 2 g per day, which is equivalent to 5 grams of salt per day) and insufficient intake of potassium (less than 3.5 g per day) contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and brain strokes.

á The majority of people consume too much salt: 9-12 grams per day on average, or twice more than the recommended maximum amount.

á Consuming less than 5 g of salt per day helps reduce blood pressure and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, brain and heart strokes.

á WHO Member States have agreed to reduce global salt consumption by 30% by 2025.

á According to estimates, reducing salt intake to the recommended level would prevent 2.5 million deaths annually.