Avoid Salt guide
Sodium terms and food-label glossary
These definitions explain the terms used across Avoid Salt tools and guides.
Sodium
An essential mineral and nutrient. Nutrition Facts labels report sodium in milligrams.
Salt
In ordinary food use, salt usually means sodium chloride. Sodium makes up about 40% of sodium chloride by weight.
Daily Value
A reference amount used on U.S. Nutrition Facts labels. The FDA Daily Value for sodium is 2,300 mg.
Percent Daily Value
The percentage of a Daily Value supplied by one labelled serving.
Serving size
The labelled amount to which the nutrition information applies. Your actual portion can be larger or smaller.
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 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The body needs a small amount of sodium; excess sodium can raise blood pressure; most U.S. sodium intake comes from packaged and restaurant foods; federal guidance recommends less than 2,300 mg daily for teens and adults.
Verified 2026-08-10