The Scoop on Sodium

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How to Read Food Labels

Understanding food labels is a key to watching your sodium intake. Read these listings in particular:

Serving size: The sodium amount is based on one serving of the food—not the whole container. If you eat two servings, multiply the milligrams (mg) of sodium by 2.

% Daily Value: This is supposed to suggest how much a serving of this food contributes to your daily sodium limit. However, all food manufacturers use 2,400 mg as the daily sodium limit. If you are older than 50 or have high blood pressure, you should limit sodium to less than 1,500 mg a day.  

Ingredients: Total sodium content includes ingredients besides salt, such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) for leavening and preservatives (such as sodium metabisulphite) that make food last longer.