How much sodium per day? Reference values explained

The FDA Daily Value is 2,300 mg

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses 2,300 mg of sodium as the Daily Value on Nutrition Facts labels. Percent Daily Value shows how much sodium one labelled serving contributes to that reference amount.

The Daily Value is especially useful for comparing packaged foods because manufacturers use the same reference when calculating %DV.

U.S. federal guidance also uses less than 2,300 mg for teens and adults

The CDC states that federal dietary guidance recommends less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for teens and adults as part of a healthy eating pattern. CDC also reports that average sodium intake in the United States remains above that level.

WHO uses a lower adult population recommendation

The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium per day. WHO describes this as equivalent to less than 5 grams of salt per day.

This difference is one reason Avoid Salt always labels the organization behind a reference rather than presenting one number as though every authority uses the same threshold.

The American Heart Association discusses 2,300 mg and 1,500 mg

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and describes no more than 1,500 mg as an optimal goal for most adults. That statement should not be converted into an automated prescription for every visitor.

A label reference and a personal medical limit are different things

A food can show 20% Daily Value because the FDA uses 2,300 mg for the label calculation. A person who has been given an individualized sodium limit by a clinician may need to compare the same food against a different number.

Avoid Salt does not determine that personal number. If you already have one, the Custom Sodium Reference Calculator can perform the comparison without changing or interpreting your prescribed limit.

How percentages can change when the reference changes

A food containing 460 mg sodium equals 20% of the FDA 2,300 mg Daily Value. The same 460 mg would equal about 30.7% of a 1,500 mg reference. The food has not changed. Only the comparison denominator has changed.

This distinction matters when reading labels because the printed %DV always uses the FDA label reference, not an individualized target.

Children and special medical situations require more care

This page focuses on widely used adult or general label references. Sodium guidance can differ by age and medical circumstance. Avoid Salt does not generate pediatric targets or condition-specific prescriptions.

If you have kidney disease, heart failure, hypertension or another condition that affects dietary management, use guidance from your doctor, registered dietitian or other qualified healthcare professional.

How Avoid Salt uses these numbers

Every tool should identify the reference being used. A statement such as “55% of the FDA Daily Value” describes arithmetic. It does not mean that 55% is good, bad or appropriate for a particular person.