New Delhi, July 16
Indians consume salt 2.2 times more than the amount recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), posing severe health risks such as hypertension, strokes, and kidney disease, among others, according to ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology.
WHO recommends less than 5 grams per day of salt (roughly under a teaspoon) or below 2g of sodium per day.
However, “the mean salt consumption per day by an Indian is 11 grams per day, which is 2.2 times more than the WHO recommendation”, the ICMR-NIE said.
According to the apex research body, regular iodised salt contains 40 per cent of sodium, much higher than the WHO limit. The WHO also suggests the use of low-sodium salt to ward off the risk.
“Major salt source is hidden in Indian diet and the hidden salt is fuelling a real risk,” said the scientists at the ICMR-NIE. They pointed out common eatables such as pickles, pappad, namkeen, biscuits and cookies, bread, vada pav, chips, instant noodles, and canned and packaged foods as potential sources for excess salt.