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  • Page | Last updated: 08 Apr 2021

Defining dietary salt and sodium - dietary recommendations for salt/sodium intake in children as described by relevant food and health-related organisations

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Note that some organisations give the recommendation for sodium instead of salt. The recommendations are given in grams per day or milligrams per day. Salt can be calculated by multiplying sodium by 2.5.

Source

Dietary recommendation
WHO 2012
  • The recommended maximum level for children (2–15 years of age) should be adjusted downward based on the energy requirements of children.
  • 'The recommended intake level in children is lower than that of adults when children’s energy requirements are less than adults.'
FSAI 2016
  • 'Salt intake in children needs to be proportionally lower than in adults (based on body weight).'
DGE 2016 (pdf)
  • Adequate intakes for sodium for children: 1 to under 4 years: 0.4 g/d; 4 to under 7 years: 0.5 g/d; 7 to under 10 years: 0.75 g/day; 10 to under 13 years: 1.1 g/d; 13 to under 15 years: 1.4 g/d; 15 to under 19 years: 1.5 g/d.
NNR 2012
  • 'The recommended sodium intake for children up to 10 years age is set to 0.2 g per MJ (0.5 g NaCl/MJ), which is based on the energy-adjusted recommended levels for adult women.'
SACN 2003 (pdf)
  • 'The sodium level contained in breast milk is adequate to maintain health for infants'.
  • The population targets for average salt consumption for children are (in g/day): <1 for 0-6 months, 1 for 7-12 months, 2 for 1-3 yrs., 3 for 4-6 yrs., 5 for 7-10 yrs., 6 for 11-14 yrs.