Swiss men and women consume significantly more salt than recommended, with men particularly exceeding safe limits.

Swiss men and women consume around 75% more salt than the recommended daily amount of five grams. Men, in particular, eat twice as much, consuming ten grams a day, as a new study shows.

Women consume an average of 7.4 grams of salt per day, according to the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) on Thursday.

Men aged 45 to 59 have the highest salt intake, averaging almost eleven grams per day. Women over 60 consume the least, at 6.7 grams per day. Excessive salt consumption occurs in all language regions, as the second Swiss Salt Study 2022-2023 further shows. However, 90% of those surveyed stated that they never or only occasionally add salt to food.

Processed Foods Are the Culprit

The reason for the excessive salt intake is processed food. More than three-quarters of table salt is consumed this way. According to the FSVO, the recommended daily amount of salt can be exceeded with just one ready-made meal.

The FSVO conducted the study on salt consumption for the second time since 2010/11. At 8.7 grams per day, the value is slightly lower than then. However, it is still around 75% above the maximum daily amount of five grams recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

©Keystone/SDA