The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines1 for Americans recommend that Americans consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day as part of a healthy eating pattern. Based on these guidelines, the vast majority of adults eat more sodium than they should—an average of more than 3,400 mg each day. Consuming too much sodium puts Americans at risk for developing serious medical conditions, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
The main contributor of sodium in the diet is not necessarily the salt shaker. The majority of the sodium Americans consume is found in processed food and restaurant meals – like grains, meat, processed poultry, soups, and sandwiches.2
The Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities recommend the following limits for sodium intake per meal:
For the Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities full report, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/guidelines_for_federal_concessions_and_vending_operations.pdf