Killer Salt: Experts say 1,75,000 people die every year in India due to excessive consumption

A national workshop held on Tuesday in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives. The goal of this workshop is to reduce hypertension through a healthy diet and low salt intake.

The workshop noted that 80% of India's salt consumption comes from home cooked meals, pushing average daily intake to over 12 grams, which is a lot higher than the 5 grams per day prescribed by the National Institute of Nutrition and WHO(World Health Organization) . The alarming figures, linked to approximately 175,000 deaths annually due to hypertension-related complications, were presented at a national workshop held Tuesday in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives.

Addressing popular misconceptions, Dr Ritika Samadar, chief clinical nutritionist at Max Healthcare, Saket, clarified that alternative salts such as pink salt, rock salt, and sea salt contain similar sodium levels as regular white salt. She emphasized the importance of using iodised salt to maintain essential nutrient levels.


Dr Ritika Samadar told TOI, traditional dishes and added table salt contribute the bulk of daily intake. Common items such as pickles, pappads, chutneys, salads, and buttermilk are key sources. The remaining salt comes from street food, restaurant meals, and packaged goods, including snacks and ready-to-eat items. Hidden salts in products like biscuits, sauces, and condiments also play a significant role.

Dr Vijay Kher, chairman of Epitome Kidney and Urology Institute and Lions Hospital, stressed the importance of early intervention and education. "If we start in early childhood, taste buds adapt to low-salt preferences, reducing the desire for excessive salty foods over a lifetime," he said. He called for a comprehensive strategy combining consumer education with regulatory reforms and food industry cooperation.

Health experts at the event warned that high salt consumption remains a leading cause of elevated blood pressure, significantly raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disorders. The workshop highlighted the urgent need for public health interventions to address excessive salt intake through dietary changes and regulatory measures.

Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, founder director of the Foundation of People-Centric Health Systems, underscored the importance of policy tools such as front-of-package warning labels. He said these measures can guide consumers and encourage food manufacturers to produce healthier products. He also advocated for higher taxes on unhealthy foods and stricter advertising regulations, especially for content targeting children as quoted by TOI.

India has committed to reducing average salt consumption by 30% by 2030, extending its earlier target of 2025 in line with the WHO’s global non-communicable disease (NCD) action plan. However, the country faces several hurdles, including the lack of a national salt reduction policy, limited regulation, and low awareness.

(With inputs from TOI)