Avoid Salt guide
A practical lower-sodium shopping guide
Food labels make comparisons easier when you compare like with like. Check serving sizes first, then compare sodium in milligrams and Percent Daily Value.
Compare similar serving sizes
A product with fewer milligrams per labelled serving is not automatically lower in sodium for the amount you will actually eat. Compare serving sizes and, when necessary, calculate sodium for the quantity you expect to consume.
Use Percent Daily Value as a quick signal
FDA guidance considers 5% Daily Value or less per serving low and 20% or more high. Values between those points still need context from serving size and the rest of the foods you eat.
Check claims against the Nutrition Facts panel
Front-of-package wording can be useful, but the Nutrition Facts panel gives you the sodium amount and serving information needed for a direct comparison.
The Compare Sodium tool can do the arithmetic for two products.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The Daily Value for sodium on U.S. Nutrition Facts labels is 2,300 mg. FDA guidance describes 5% Daily Value or less per serving as low and 20% or more as high.
Verified 2026-08-10