What Are the FDA Guidelines for Sodium Intake and How to Follow Them?

November 2, 2025 •

3 min read

The average American consumes nearly 3,400 milligrams of sodium daily, a level significantly exceeding the less-than-2,300 mg limit endorsed by the Dietary Guidelines and supported by the FDA. Knowing what are the FDA guidelines for sodium intake can empower individuals to make more informed dietary choices and improve their overall health.

Quick Summary

The FDA's sodium guidelines recommend adults limit daily intake to less than 2,300 mg and provide rules for food labeling. The agency has also issued voluntary reduction targets for the food industry to help lower overall consumption and mitigate associated health risks.

Key Points

Daily Limit for Adults: The FDA supports the Dietary Guidelines' recommendation for adults and teens (14+) to consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.
FDA's Gradual Reduction Initiative: The agency is working with the food industry through voluntary Phase I and Phase II targets to slowly decrease sodium levels in processed and prepared foods.
Identify High vs. Low Sodium: On the Nutrition Facts label, 5% Daily Value (%DV) or less is considered low, while 20% DV or more is considered high.
Understand Label Claims: The FDA defines terms like 'Low Sodium' (140mg or less) and 'Sodium-Free' (less than 5mg) to help consumers identify products with reduced sodium content.
Reduce Processed Food Consumption: Since most sodium comes from processed, packaged, and restaurant foods, cooking at home and choosing fresh ingredients are effective strategies for lowering intake.
Mitigate Health Risks: High sodium intake is a primary contributor to high blood pressure, and following these guidelines can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The FDA-Endorsed Daily Sodium Limit

The FDA aligns with the daily sodium recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For most healthy adults and teenagers 14 and older, the recommendation is to consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily, equivalent to about one teaspoon of table salt. Lower limits may apply to specific groups like young children and individuals with certain health conditions.

Recommended Limits by Age Group

The FDA supports age-specific sodium limits:

Ages 1-3: Less than 1,200 mg per day.
Ages 4-8: Less than 1,500 mg per day.
Ages 9-13: Less than 1,800 mg per day.
Ages 14+: Less than 2,300 mg per day.

The FDA's Voluntary Industry Targets

Recognizing that most dietary sodium comes from processed and restaurant foods, the FDA has a strategy to collaborate with the food industry to gradually lower sodium in the food supply.

Phase I and Phase II Targets

Phase I (October 2021): The FDA set voluntary 2.5-year targets aimed at reducing average sodium intake to 3,000 mg/day from about 3,400 mg/day.
Phase II (Draft, August 2024): The FDA proposed new voluntary 3-year targets, building on Phase I progress, with the goal of further lowering average intake to roughly 2,750 mg/day.

This phased approach helps provide more lower-sodium options for consumers and allows taste preferences to adapt. For further details, see the FDA's Sodium Reduction in the Food Supply initiative.

Deciphering Sodium on the Nutrition Facts Label

The FDA mandates how sodium content is presented on food labels to help consumers manage their intake.

Using the % Daily Value (%DV)

The % Daily Value provides a quick sodium assessment based on a 2,300 mg daily limit.
5% DV or less per serving indicates a low-sodium food.
20% DV or more per serving indicates a high-sodium food.
Always check the serving size, as consuming multiple servings increases sodium intake proportionally.

Nutrient Content Claims for Sodium

The FDA regulates specific terms on packaging to help consumers find lower-sodium options.


Claim	What it Means (FDA Standard)
Sodium-Free	Less than 5 mg per serving.
Very Low Sodium	35 mg or less per serving.
Low Sodium	140 mg or less per serving.
Reduced Sodium	At least 25% less sodium than the regular product.
Light in Sodium/Lightly Salted	At least 50% less sodium than the regular product.
No-Salt-Added/Unsalted	No salt is added during processing; may still contain natural sodium.

Health Implications and the Need for Reduction

High sodium intake is a significant public health issue linked to high blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. The FDA's efforts to reduce sodium in the food supply aim to prevent numerous premature deaths and illnesses. Since most sodium is from processed and restaurant meals, reducing reliance on these foods is a key strategy.

Conclusion

Understanding what the FDA guidelines for sodium intake are is essential for better health. The FDA's strategy involves consumer recommendations and voluntary industry targets. By using Nutrition Facts labels, understanding nutrient claims, and choosing lower-sodium foods, consumers can effectively reduce their intake. This collective effort to lower sodium consumption from processed and prepared foods can have a significant positive impact on public health by reducing high blood pressure and related heart conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Dietary Guidelines that the FDA supports, the recommended maximum daily sodium intake for most adults is less than 2,300 milligrams, which is about one teaspoon of salt.

The FDA sets voluntary targets for manufacturers and restaurants to gradually reduce sodium in a wide range of commercially processed and prepared foods over several years, with the goal of lowering the population's average intake.

When looking at a food's Nutrition Facts label, use the % Daily Value (%DV) for sodium. If the %DV is 5% or less, the food is considered low in sodium. If it's 20% or more, it's considered high.

According to FDA rules, 'Salt-Free' means the food is sodium-free (less than 5 mg per serving). 'No-Salt-Added' or 'Unsalted' means no salt was added during processing, but the product may still contain naturally occurring sodium, so it's not necessarily sodium-free.

Yes, the FDA does regulate sodium labeling for oral OTC drug products. It requires sodium content to be listed if a single maximum dose contains 5 mg or more, and a warning if the maximum daily dose exceeds 140 mg.

The FDA is focused on reducing sodium intake because excessive consumption is a major contributor to high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

The FDA and other health experts report that approximately 70% of the sodium Americans consume comes from processed, packaged, and restaurant foods, rather than the saltshaker.