Half of US consumers, 18 years and older, are trying to get less sugar in their diets compared to 36% who want to reduce their salt intake
The US Food and Drug Administration recently issued guidance to reduce the average daily sodium intake by 12% over the next few years by encouraging food manufacturers and foodservice companies to cut back their use of salt in products. Food market research by The NPD Group finds that US consumers are more concerned about the amount of sugar in their diets than they are about their sodium intake.
Half of US consumers, 18 years and older, are trying to get less sugar in their diets compared to 36% who want to reduce their salt intake, according to NPD’s Health Aspirations & Behavioral Tracking Service. However, sodium consumption concerns vary by age, and the degree of concern doesn’t gradually increase as the age range advances. While 45% of consumers, 55 and older, want to decrease the amount of sodium in their diets, only 34% of consumers, ages 45 to 54, are concerned about sodium intake. Of the 35 to 44 and 25 to 34 age groups, 25% and 30%, respectively, are trying to get less sodium in their diets. Of the youngest adult age group, ages 18 to 24, 33% are concerned about their sodium intake.