Salt consumption in Poland decreased from 15 g per person per day in 1998 to about 11 g – according to the calculations of the Food and Nutrition Institute in Warsaw made on the basis of yet unpublished data from the Central Statistical Office. However, it is still twice as large.
Director of IŻiŻ, prof. Mirosław Jarosz explains that the average salt consumption in Poland, amounting to almost 11 g per day, includes both salt added to dishes from the salt shaker, as well as the “hidden” salt contained in ready meals and food products. However, only households were included in the calculations, excluding mass catering in restaurants and canteens.
The actual consumption of salt may therefore be slightly higher, but rather slightly, Dr. Ewa Rychlik from IŻiŻ told PAP. In her opinion, apart from some larger cities, such as Warsaw, our countrymen do not use mass catering. Apart from that, the saltiest meal is still a traditional Polish dinner. We also like products such as bread, cold cuts and milk and its products, which contain the most salt.
We can certainly talk about a decrease in salt consumption in our country and we hope that it will continue to decrease in the coming years, he adds.
The data presented by Dr. Rychlik show that Poland is no longer one of the countries with the highest salt consumption. More salt than us are Turks (15 g per day), Hungarians (14,8 g) and Croats (14,5 g). However, the Israelis (only 7 g a day), Latvians (7,1 g), Americans (8,5 g) and the Dutch (8,8 g) salt much less than us.
Worldwide salt consumption is still too high, even in countries where it is used the least. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it shouldn’t exceed just 5 g per day. It is enough to eat only one pizza to consume up to 8 g of salt in one meal.
In Poland, 5 g of salt a day is not consumed by any social group included in the statistics. The most salt, as much as 16 g a day, is consumed by retirees and pensioners, because among them there is still a belief that a good meal must be salty – emphasizes Dr. Rychlik. People who are on their own account have the least salt – they consume 8,8 g of salt per day.
Prof. Jarosz emphasizes that salt consumption depends to a large extent on education and training. In Poland, as much as 16 g of salt a day is consumed by people with primary education and without qualifications. Poles with lower secondary and vocational education consume 12,5 g of salt a day, and those with a university diploma – 8,6 g.
Children also consume too much salt. The research of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw shows that it is excessive in as many as 90 percent. toddlers up to 3 years of age. The reason is not a greater desire to reach for salty foods such as crisps. The culprits are primarily adults who think that the dishes served to children must be properly salty – emphasizes Anna Taraszewska from the Institute of Food and Nutrition.
The data presented by the specialist shows that only 7 percent. parents follow the recommendations of infant nutrition, and almost 60 percent. children up to 12 months of age receive food that is not intended for them.
Taste is one of the most developed human senses in the first months of life, but we are not born with a salty taste preference, it is a myth. As soon as we are born into the world, we are indifferent to him – points out Taraszewska. It is only true – she adds – that newborns show high acceptance of sweetness, do not like sour taste and are indifferent to bitter taste.
According to the specialist, it is early food experiences that shape the taste for salting. Most often it is decided by parents or guardians who think that when the food is not salty, it has no taste. And they even add salt in ready-made products intended for babies.
We must remember that the norms of salt consumption for children and adolescents are lower than for adults and range from 1,9 g to a maximum of 3,75 g per person per day, depending on age and energy needs – emphasizes prof. Vegetarian.
IŻiŻ specialists have published the latest data on the occasion of the World Salt Awareness Week, which is held this year from 16 to 22 March.
They remind that excessive consumption of salt increases the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, especially heart attacks and strokes, as well as cancer of the stomach and esophagus, and even kidney stones and osteoporosis.
The latest reports published in 2014 suggest that too much salt consumption promotes obesity, especially abdominal obesity – adds Prof. Vegetarian.
Zbigniew Wojtasiński (PAP)