Overview:
World Salt Awareness Week is organized annually by the World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health (WASSH) to raise awareness of the harmful effects of excessive salt consumption. The campaign highlights hidden salt in everyday foods and encourages individuals and families to reduce salt intake as part of a healthier lifestyle.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness about reducing salt intake.
- Prevent deaths and diet-related diseases. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year if global salt intake were reduced to less than 5 grams per day.
- Create supportive environments in public institutions, such as hospitals, schools, workplaces, and care facilities, to encourage lower-sodium choices.
- Encourage food manufacturers to reformulate products with less salt and establish sodium reduction targets.
- Promote the use of low-sodium salt substitutes as part of sodium reduction strategies.
Facts:
- Most people worldwide consume more sodium than recommended.
- High sodium intake is strongly associated with high blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, stomach cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, Ménière's disease, and kidney disease.
- Excess sodium intake is associated with an estimated 1.89 million deaths each year.
- The global average sodium intake among adults is approximately 4,310 mg per day, equivalent to about 10.78 grams of salt per day.
- Much of the salt people consume comes from processed and packaged foods that contain hidden salt.
Official Date:
Globally: May 12th–18th, 2026.
Locally: Dhu al-Qi'dah 25th – Dhu al-Hijjah 1st, 1447H.
References:
World Health Organization (WHO