Most Dutch eat too much salt, research fnds

Over 85 percent of people in the Netherlands eat too much salt, research by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment shows.

Most people in the country take well over the daily recommended amount of six grammes of salt. The average intake for men is 9.9 grammes, compared with 7.5 grammes for women.

The habit is acquired early on, the researchers found. Boys average a daily intake of 8.3 grammes, girls 6.8 grammes.

The head of the Institute’s Food and Health Centre, Hans Verhagen, describes the results as worrisome. “People who take too much salt over longer periods, are at an increased risk of developing serious diseases and dying prematurely.” An excessive salt intake causes high blood pressure, which, in turn, increases the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases.

Most of the salt is ingested during dinner 36 percent, followed by lunch 31 percent. The main sources of salt during dinners are meat product and sauces. During lunch, most of the salt is to be found in bread and cheese. Packaged and ready-to-eat meals also contain excessive levels of salt.