Fact about Salt intake in Japan

Japanese salt 9.6g

intake is at high level 8.0g 8.7g

Japanese salt intake

is approximately 10g/day.
This means that our dietary salt
intake exceeds that of many
other countries.

Data source : National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2016 (Japan). National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 2014 (UK).
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2014 (USA).

Target amount and current value of salt intake（g/day）

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

NOW 10.8

GOAL 8.0

NOW 9.2

GOAL 7.0

WHO 5.0

Data source : National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2016. Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese, 2015.
WHO Guideline: Sodium intake for adults and children, 2012.

© National Institute of Health and Nutrition. All Right reserved.

Why do we consume too much salt?

Where does it come from?

Approximately 70% of salt intake 68% 9% 7% 6% 3% 7%

comes from seasonings, such as
soya sauce, miso (soya paste) and
salt added during cooking or
eating.

Seasonings, Vegetables,
Spices Pickles

Rice/Breads, Meats/Poultries,
Noodles Processed meats

Fishes,
Others
Shellfishies

Data source : National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2016

Difference insalt
Difference in saltsource
sourcebetween
betweengeneration.
generation

Japanese elderly people consume more

seasonings than younger people.
In addition, there is a generation
difference in the source of dietary salt.
Elderly people consume more pickles, while
younger consume more processed foods
such as instant Chinese noodles and Japa-
nese curry roux.

More salt reduction in processed foods in

Japan will be needed in the future.

m i s o

Data source: Takimoto H, et al. Hypentens Res 2018, 41(3)209-212

© National Institute of Health and Nutrition. All Right reserved.