Please click to view our full position statement: AoS/WASH/BPUK Policy Position - Potassium-based Salt Replacers [PDF 630KB]

The purpose of this document is to set out the joint position of Action on Salt, World Action on Salt and Healthand Blood Pressure UK on the use of potassium-based sodium replacers to reduce population salt (sodium chloride) intake.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), in collaboration with the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), have conducted a lengthy and extensive review of the potential benefits and risks of potassium-based sodium replacers to population health. They tested replacing 15% of sodium in bread and 25% of sodium in other commonly consumed foods with potassium and found that the benefits outweigh the potential risks, with those benefits having a large impact at the population level. They recommended that the government encourage the food industry to consider the use of potassium-based sodium replacers to reduce the salt content of food.

Action on Salt, World Action on Salt and Health and Blood Pressure UK agree with the SACN and COT joint report and recommend the use of potassium-based sodium replacers as one way the food industry can reduce the sodium content of food products. This will also lead to an increase in potassium intake, which will benefit the health of the UK population. However, further reformulation leading to a gradual reduction of salt content is technically feasible in the majority of foods. We are ultimately working towards reducing population preference for salt and salty foods.