Associated PressThe Food and Drug Administration proposed new sodium guidelines Wednesday that encourage food companies and restaurants to lower the amount of sodium in the foods they sell. Americans now eat around 3,400 mg of sodium a day, about a third more than the 2,300 mg recommended. FDA's two-year targets are designed to bring U.S. diets down to about 3000 mg daily, and the 10-year targets are designed to get diets down to the suggested 2,300 mg daily.
Average sodium content per 100 grams, about 3 ½ ounces, in some top-selling foods, and the new target averages for those foods:
Cream cheese spread
Average sodium content in 2010: 401 mg
Two-year target: 380 mg
Ten-tear target: 340 mg
Salad dressing
Average sodium content in 2010: 1,047 mg
Two-year target: 880 mg
Ten-tear target: 590 mg
Canned, condensed soup
Average sodium content in 2010: 581 mg
Two-year target: 520 mg
Ten-tear target: 430 mg
Ready-to-eat cereal, flakes
Average sodium content in 2010: 647 mg
Two-year target: 550 mg
Ten-tear target: 360 mg
White Bread
Average sodium content in 2010: 523 mg
Two-year target: 440 mg
Ten-tear target: 300 mg
Turkey and chicken deli meats
Average sodium content in 2010: 990 mg
Two-year target: 900 mg
Ten-tear target: 780 mg
