The State of Salt: How state-based initiatives can drive national action on salt reduction in Australia

Abstract

High dietary salt intake is the primary modifiable cause of hypertension, an important biomedical risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Population salt reduction is therefore potentially one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to improve population health in Australia. Reflecting the importance of this public health priority internationally, United Nations member states, including Australia, have committed to a 30% relative reduction in mean population intake of salt as part of the global targets for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.