Add up the salt you’ve eaten today, convert sodium to salt and check whether a food label counts as high in salt.
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Maximum salt a day (NHS)
| Age | Maximum salt |
|---|---|
| Under 1 | less than 1 g |
| 1 to 3 | 2 g |
| 4 to 6 | 3 g |
| 7 to 10 | 5 g |
| 11 and over, including adults | 6 g (about a level teaspoon) |
Reading labels: salt per 100 g
| Rating | Salt per 100 g | Sodium per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| High (red) | more than 1.5 g | more than 0.6 g |
| Medium (amber) | 0.3 to 1.5 g | 0.1 to 0.6 g |
| Low (green) | 0.3 g or less | 0.1 g or less |
If a label only shows sodium, multiply by 2.5 to get salt. Most of the salt we eat is already in foods we buy, such as bread, breakfast cereals, sauces and ready meals.
Frequently asked questions
How much salt should I have a day?
No more than 6 g if you’re 11 or over, which is about a level teaspoon.
How do I convert sodium to salt?
Multiply sodium by 2.5. For example, 0.4 g of sodium is 1 g of salt.
Which foods are high in salt?
Often bacon, ham, cheese, crisps, soy sauce, stock cubes, ready meals and some breads.
Is anything stored?
No, it runs in your browser.
Sources
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