Americans Are Pretty Much Ignoring USDA Guidelines On Daily Sodium Intake

Most generations of Americans – from pre-boomers through “millennials” in their twenties – are consuming far more sodium than recommended by the USDA in its recently updated dietary guidelines, according to a report from market research firm The NPD Group. The federal  guidelines recommend 2,300 mg of sodium a day for the average person, and only 1,500 mg a day for people over 50 years old. But NPD Group says daily sodium intake for seniors born before 1946 is 2,912 mg and for older boomers born between 1946 and 1955 intake is 3,199 mg. Sodium intake is even higher among younger boomers (3,280 mg a day) and millennials (3,485 mg a day). The NPD Group says the problem of over-consumption of sodium is not easily solved.