title: Reported use and perceived understanding of sodium information on US nutrition labels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comparing nutrition labels and choosing lower sodium foods are tactics to help reduce excessive sodium intake, a major risk factor for hypertension. Our objective was to assess US adult consumers' reported use and perceived understanding of sodium information on nutrition labels by sociodemographic and health status.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed responses to questions from 3,729 adults aged 18 years or older participating in 2 national cross-sectional mail panel surveys in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 19.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.2%-21.6%) of respondents agreed they were confused about how to figure out how much sodium is in the foods they eat; 57.9% (95% CI, 55.4%-60.5%) reported that they or the person who shops for their food buy items labeled low salt or low sodium; and 46.8% (95% CI, 44.3%-49.4%) reported they check nutrition labels for sodium content as a tactic to limit salt. Consumers with a high school education or less were more likely than college graduates to report they were confused about sodium content on labels (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.8) and less likely to check labels for sodium as a tactic to limit salt intake (AOR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6-0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most survey respondents in our study reported buying low sodium food items. However, a higher proportion of respondents with low education than respondents with high education reported confusion with and less use of sodium content information, suggesting enhanced efforts may be needed to assist this group. Opportunity exists for health care professionals to educate patients about using and understanding nutrition labels and consuming a diet consistent with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan.
authors: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS K-72, 4770 Buford Hwy, Chamblee, GA 30341. Email: JLevings@cdc.gov.
authors: Jessica Lee
authors: JL
authors: Levings
authors: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Joyce
authors: J
authors: Maalouf
authors: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Tong
authors: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Mary E
authors: ME
authors: Cogswell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010465:Perception; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary