The IAFNS Sodium in Food & Health Implications (SoFHI) committee supports collaboration among academic, industry, and government scientists and focuses on the development and communication of sodium research on foods, food patterns and health implications across demographics.
The Committee has four primary areas of focus:
• Facilitate stakeholder dialogue on topics related to intake of sodium in the context of the total diet;
• Support applied clinical or epidemiological research to improve the understanding of sodium in foods and the relationship to estimates of intake;
• Understand different facets of sodium reduction in foods;
• Provide subject matter expertise to NGOs, federal agencies, and other public health stakeholders on sodium as relevant to food composition, food safety, and food quality.
Interested in learning more? The sodium committee has continuing education:
- Access CEU credits here.
General Mills, Inc.
Projects Supported by the Committee:
Publications
Top Sodium Food Sources in the American Diet—Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Nutrients, 2023
Targeting the Dietary Na:K Ratio—Considerations for Design of an Intervention Study to Impact Blood Pressure
Advances in Nutrition, 2022
Fundamental to developing a specific dietary recommendation for a sodium-to-potassium ratio is a well-designed human intervention trial.
Sodium Reduction Technologies Applied to Bread Products and their Impact on Sensory Properties: A Review
International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2021
Chronic overconsumption of sodium has led to its designation as a nutrient of public health concern. Sodium reduction technologies discussed include methods in the areas of salt removal, physical modification, salt replacement and flavour modification.
Potassium Chloride-Based Replacers: Modeling Effects on Sodium and Potassium Intakes of the US population with Cross-Sectional Data from NHANES 2015–2016 and 2009–2010
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2021
Public sodium intake in the USA exceeds the recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration. The replacement of added sodium chloride (NaCl) with potassium chloride (KCl) provides a potential strategy to reduce sodium intake while remaining within the KCl range recommended for health.
Perspective: Challenges and Strategies to Reduce the Sodium Content of Foods by the Food Service Industry
Advances in Nutrition, 2023
This perspective article provides an overview of the challenges and strategies that have been used by the food service industry to reduce sodium in foods away from home, as well as future sodium reduction strategies. Because of the widespread consumption of foods away from home, implementing such future strategies could have a profound impact on the sodium content of the American diet.
Events
IAFNS Expert Dialogue on Sodium Reduction and Public Health
March 14, 2024
Washington, DC
The IAFNS Sodium in Foods & Health Implications Committee hosted an Expert Dialogue on sodium’s role in the food supply and opportunities to update current public health strategies for sodium reduction.
Read more about IAFNS Expert Dialogue on Sodium Reduction and Public Health
Webinar Series: Why is Reducing Sodium So Hard? Sensory Science, Consumer Insights and Culinary Solutions
January 31, 2024
Virtual, Event
Sodium reduction lies at the center of a complex world of taste, food safety, consumer perceptions and culinary solutions. Speakers will address the science behind taste and smell, while also exploring the various factors that influence consumers’ sodium perceptions and behaviors.
Webinar Series: Benefits of Potassium Substitution for Public Health
January 29, 2024
Virtual, Event
Potassium substituted for salt has been shown to not only reduce blood pressure, but also reduce the risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Read more about Webinar Series: Benefits of Potassium Substitution for Public Health
Webinar Series: Emerging Science — Leveraging Innovation to Address Technical Challenges of Reducing Sodium in Foods
January 26, 2024
Virtual, Event
Many food manufacturers and food service organizations have made commitments towards sodium reduction in their products and have introduced them into the market. There are many technical obstacles to reducing sodium in food products considering the functional roles of sodium-containing ingredients.
Webinar Series: Effects of Sodium Reduction on Food Safety and Quality
January 25, 2024
Virtual, Event
Today, salt remains essential in many food commodities, such as dairy and ready-to-eat meats, not only as a preservative but also as a flavor enhancer and a means to improve texture. However, the need to reduce sodium consumption has become more critical to public health.
Read more about Webinar Series: Effects of Sodium Reduction on Food Safety and Quality