One in three Australians have a high blood pressure and Australians eat twice the recommended amount of sodium. This excess sodium raises blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke. These leading causes of death in Australia create health inequalities, with worst outcomes in First Nations People, socio-economically deprived and regional and remote residents. Mandatory sodium reduction is more effective than the current voluntary measures. Evidence shows that salt substitutes with lower sodium and rich in potassium are safe and highly effective in lowering blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke. However, the big challenge is overcoming policy inertia. There is an absence of evidence on the potential impact in Australia of mandatory salt limits or substitution. This project will provide this evidence by evaluating the lifetime health equity and economic impacts of mandating low-sodium potassium-rich salt substitutes in Australia. This will inform robust policies that prevent heart disease and stroke in Australia.
Last updated17 January 2023