A host of new low-sodium ingredients is helping bakers and snack manufacturers give consumers what they want: Intriguing products with less salt and more flavor. Romy Schafer, Contributing Writer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report in February that reconfirms what most adults already know: A majority of Americans consume too much sodium. Too much sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which often leads to heart disease and strokes. Processed and restaurant-prepared foods contain the most sodium of the foods people eat.
Among the 10 foods that the CDC cites as those accounting for more than 40% of the sodium people eat are breads and rolls, pizza and snacks (chips, pretzels and popcorn). Surprisingly, breads and rolls topped the list, not because they contain extremely high levels of sodium, but because Americans consume a lot of these baked goods.