Salty or sweet? Chips or chocolate? Everyone has a preference, and if you choose to indulge in salty snacks you should keep in mind your daily sodium intake. Although it provides a delicious taste and snacking experience, sodium has many side effects if consumed too much. It can raise your chances of things like enlarged heart muscle, headaches, heart failure, high blood pressure, kidney disease, kidney stones, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, and stroke. Reducing sodium intake is an important health issue around the world, and will continue to be important in a post-COVID world.
One of the most common ways to reduce sodium in products is using potassium chloride. You will commonly see it in products with a low/no/reduced sodium claim than without a low/no/reduced sodium claim. Sodium and potassium work together to regulate the body’s blood pressure. Increasing the potassium-to-sodium ratio could be very beneficial for many food manufacturers’ products, creating opportunities to promote high potassium alongside sodium-reduction strategies. In the U.S., the FDA recently announced potassium chloride can be labeled as “potassium salt.” This is an important victory for the ingredient, as potassium salt is often viewed as more consumer-friendly than potassium chloride. In addition, flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), disodium inosinate (IMP), and hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) can extend the perception of that sought-after salty taste. They can reduce the sodium content in the final product while making sure to give the consumer the taste profile they are seeking.
Salt has been trusted as one of the best and most natural preservatives by consumers for many years. But with consumers paying more and more attention to their health and reducing their sodium intake, food manufacturers must find alternatives. By reducing the sodium in your products, you can show your commitment to public health. As an ingredient supplier, we’re contributing to the sodium reduction health trend by providing food manufacturers with alternative ingredients. Get in touch with us today!
