Global average salt consumption is more than double (10.8g/day) the recommendation set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Excess salt consumption has long been shown to raise our blood pressure and increase our risk of cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. 

For many of us around the world, much of the salt in our diets is already in the foods we buy, and therefore strong government action is required to drive down salt levels in processed and packaged foods.

Reducing salt is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to improve our health. In practise, this can be small individual acts - such as cutting down on salt added at the table and choosing lower-salt alternatives - but also, crucially, systemic action from the food industry and government is needed to reduce salt across the food supply. 

This Salt Awareness Week, we’re making sure everyone knows the facts, and are calling on the government and the food industry to do more to protect public health and Salt It Out for good.  

How will you get involved?

Help us to spread the word about the effects of high salt intake by organising your own event with your government or your community, write to your health minister to ask what action they will take, ask your favourite food brands to reduce their salt levels, or even send out a press release. 

If you would like to be involved, whether you are a food business, a health group, a community organisation, a politician, or a school, we would love to hear from you! You can contact our team via email on salt@qmul.ac.uk 

Support our campaign and join the conversation: #SaltAwarenessWeek