Age 15+: Consumption of more than one salty ultra-processed food

Definition

Proportion of the population age 15 years and older who consumed more than one salty food in the previous day or night. Salty foods include processed meats, packaged ultra-processed salty snacks, instant noodles, deep fried foods, and fast food.

Relevance

The WHO recommends sodium be limited to <2g/day (<5g/day salt). Excessive consumption of ultraprocessed salty foods may increase the risk of hypertension and diet-related noncommunicable diseases, and is a marker of dietary transitions. For this reason "processed foods high in salt" is reported in WHO STEPS survey fact sheets. Two or more ultraprocessed salty foods is related to a higher likelihood of exceeding the WHO salt recommendation.