Most Irish people eating too much salt, study finds

Most Irish adults eat more than the recommended daily limit of six grams of salt.

A major new study, the most extensive ever undertaken in Ireland, found that 86% of men and 67% of women eat too much salt.

Excess salt is linked with high blood pressure which can lead to heart disease, stroke and obesity.

Commenting on the research findings, Dr. Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, director, human health & nutrition, Safefood said: “High dietary salt intake can have serious health consequences and is strongly associated with high blood pressure and the pain and suffering related to stroke and cardiac disease.

“These high salt intakes are also associated with obesity in men and women. The findings mean that consumers, especially men, need to cut down on their salt intake.

“There is a misconception that salt intake is related to the salt added at the table but the majority of salt in the diet is ‘hidden’ in that it comes from processed foods.

“Efforts have been made by parts of the food industry to reduce salt levels, however, Irish people are consuming higher quantities of foods with salt in their diet.

“I would advise that we need to choose lower salt options – less processed foods and meats and lower salt bread and breakfast cereals.”