Sodium Claims Explained: Low, Reduced and No-Salt-Added
Learn what FDA sodium claims mean, why no salt added does not mean sodium free, and how to compare Nutrition Facts labels while shopping.
Key takeaways
- Read the sodium amount and serving size before choosing between packages.
- 'Reduced sodium' means at least 25% less than an appropriate reference food, not necessarily a low-sodium food (FDA).
- 'No salt added' describes processing; it does not establish that a food is sodium free (FDA).
- For sodium per serving, 5% DV or less is low and 20% DV or more is high under FDA's general label-reading guide (FDA).
Turn the package around and compare its sodium amount with the portion you plan to eat. Use the front-of-package claim to shortlist options, then let the Nutrition Facts panel help you choose.
A soup carton, a can of beans, and a bottle of sauce can use similar language while telling you different things. Some claims set an amount limit, some compare products, and others describe how the food was made.
What each sodium claim means
FDA’s shopper guide describes sodium-free, very-low-sodium, and low-sodium foods using per-serving amounts, while its labeling appendix includes additional reference-amount and meal conditions (FDA shopper guide, FDA labeling guide).
Here, RACC means ‘reference amounts customarily consumed,’ the reference amounts used in the claim definitions (FDA).
| Claim | FDA definition and conditions | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium free / salt free | Less than 5 mg per RACC and per labeled serving; for meals and main dishes, less than 5 mg per labeled serving. Sodium-containing ingredients are restricted, with an exception for ingredients identified as adding a trivial amount; salt free must meet sodium-free criteria (FDA). | Match your portion to the label. |
| Very low sodium | 35 mg or less per RACC, and per 50 g if the RACC is small; meals and main dishes: 35 mg or less per 100 g (FDA). | Check the sodium amount for the portion you eat. |
| Low sodium | 140 mg or less per RACC, and per 50 g if the RACC is small; meals and main dishes: 140 mg or less per 100 g (FDA). | Do not assume a whole package is a serving. |
| Reduced sodium / less sodium | At least 25% less sodium per RACC than an appropriate reference food; meals and main dishes use a per-100-g comparison. The reference food cannot qualify as low sodium (FDA). | Read which food supplies the comparison. |
| Light in sodium | Sodium reduced by at least 50% per RACC; for meals and main dishes, the product must meet the low-sodium definition (FDA). | Check the amount remaining. |
| No salt added / unsalted | No salt added during processing; the product may still contain sodium (FDA). If it is not sodium free, its information panel must say so (FDA). | Read total sodium, not just the processing claim. |
A small RACC means 30 g or less or 2 tablespoons or less; for qualifying dehydrated foods, the additional per-50-g test applies to the prepared form (FDA).
For the graphic’s shorthand, FDA lists sodium free as less than 5 mg per serving, very low sodium as 35 mg or less per serving, and low sodium as 140 mg or less per serving (FDA). Its shopper comparison is at least 25% less sodium than the regular product for reduced sodium and at least 50% less for light in sodium (FDA).
Why no salt added does not mean sodium free
Salt and sodium aren’t the same thing: table salt is a compound called sodium chloride (FDA). FDA also identifies sodium-containing ingredients such as baking soda and monosodium glutamate that contribute to the sodium total (FDA).
That makes the label distinction useful. ‘No salt added’ tells you about processing, whereas ‘sodium free’ has a sodium-content threshold (FDA).
When choosing canned tomatoes for dinner, start with the no-salt-added option if it appeals to you, then check its panel. Repeat that check for the beans, broth, or sauce you plan to combine with it.
Our guide to frozen and canned produce can help you work those ingredients into ordinary meals.
Use the Daily Value and serving size together
The sodium Daily Value is 2,300 mg, with FDA’s label guidance advising intake below that amount (FDA). The percentage Daily Value, or %DV, shows how much a serving contributes to the daily reference amount (FDA).
FDA’s general guide considers 5% DV or less per serving low and 20% DV or more high (FDA). This comparison tool is different from the specific conditions for printing a ‘low sodium’ claim on a package.
Start with comparable foods, such as canned soups you would use for lunch. Match their serving sizes before comparing the percentages, as FDA recommends (FDA).
Next, consider your bowl rather than stopping at the printed serving. FDA says to account for how many servings you actually eat when working out sodium intake (FDA).
If you need a refresher on the panel, use how to read a nutrition label.
Choose the comparison that fits your shopping
Start with something you already buy, not your whole cart.
A familiar packaged food
Set your usual product beside an alternative. Look for a clear statement identifying the reference food when a relative claim is used; FDA’s labeling guide requires reference-food information for these comparisons (FDA).
Compare matching portions and decide whether the alternative fits the dish you make. Write down the version you prefer so you do not need to repeat the whole comparison next time.
Ingredients for a meal
List the ingredients you’ll use: beans, tomatoes, rice, seasoning and a topping, for example. Check the packages you will actually use instead of relying on the claim on the main ingredient.
Add your choices to a weekly meal plan. Make a note beside any ingredient you want to compare at the store.
Where sodium shows up beyond the salt shaker
FDA says most dietary sodium (over 70%) comes from packaged and prepared foods, not from table salt added while cooking or eating (FDA). The same page cites CDC: about 40% of the sodium Americans eat comes from foods such as deli meat sandwiches, pizza, burritos and tacos, soups, and savory snacks (FDA).
Taste is not a dependable sodium test: FDA notes that cereals and pastries can contain sodium without tasting salty, and repeated servings of bread can contribute sodium throughout the day (FDA). Check familiar staples as well as foods you already think of as salty.
For your next shopping trip, choose a regular lunch or dinner to examine. Put its packaged ingredients on your list, leaving room to record the option you choose. Our healthy grocery list on a budget can help you organize that list around meals you will use.
Your store checklist
Use this list for a familiar staple before trying to compare the whole cart. Save a photo of the label you choose if that makes your next trip easier.
- Find the sodium line on the Nutrition Facts panel.
- Check the serving size against the portion you plan to eat.
- Compare similar foods using matching portions.
- Identify whether the claim describes an amount, a reduction, or processing.
- Read the reference-food statement on a reduced-sodium product.
- Check total sodium even when the package says no salt added.
- Review other packaged ingredients you will add to the meal.
- Follow any individual instructions from your doctor or registered dietitian.
Jot down what worked (the soup you liked, the beans that suited your recipe) so you can find it again next time.
Frequently asked questions
Does sodium free mean absolutely no sodium?
Not necessarily: FDA's shopper summary defines sodium free as less than 5 mg per serving (FDA). Treat it as a defined labeling threshold rather than a promise that no sodium exists in the food, and check your portion.
Is reduced sodium better than low sodium?
The claims answer different questions: reduced sodium compares a food with a reference food, while low sodium has an amount limit (FDA). Compare the actual sodium amounts for matching portions before deciding which package suits your meal.
Can an unsalted food still contain sodium?
Yes. FDA explains that unsalted and no-salt-added products may still contain sodium (FDA). Read the Nutrition Facts panel rather than treating the front claim as a complete sodium count, especially when choosing ingredients for a sodium-limited eating plan.
Should I use the label's Daily Value if my doctor gave me a limit?
Follow the plan you agreed on with your doctor or registered dietitian, and ask how to apply it to meals and snacks. FDA describes Daily Values as general reference amounts used on labels (FDA); they do not replace your individual instructions.