The use of table and cooking salt in a sample of Australian adults.
BACKGROUND
Dietary sodium, the major source being salt, is associated with hypertension. Australian adults consume more than the recommended amount of salt and approximately 15% of dietary sodium comes from salt added at the table and during cooking.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of and the demographic characteristics associated with discretionary salt use.


METHODS
A cross sectional survey conducted in shopping centres within Metropolitan Melbourne. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing discretionary salt use and attitudes to salt intake.


RESULTS
Four hundred and seventy four surveys were collected (65% female, 77% Caucasian, 64% holding a university qualification). Eighty nine percent of respondents were classified as salt users and 11% as non-salt users. Of the salt users 52% reported that they always or sometimes add salt during cooking and at the table. Those of Asian descent and younger respondents aged 18-24 years were more likely to be salt users (chi2=12.3, df=2, p<0.001; chi2=19.2, df=5, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Discretionary salt use remains high. To successfully reduce population dietary salt intake public health campaigns are urgently required and need to include consumer advice to reduce discretionary salt use, whilst reducing the salt added to processed foods. Such campaigns should include younger age groups and should be appropriate for all ethnic backgrounds to raise the awareness of the risks of a high salt diet on health.
Grimes
Carley A
CA
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. carley.grimes@deakin.edu.au
Riddell
Lynn J
LJ
Nowson
Caryl A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D044466:Asian People; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary