Top Food Contributors of Sodium Intake in US Children and Adults Aged 1 Year or Older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, August 2021-August 2023.

To identify the food categories contributing most to sodium intake in the US, we used 2021-2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Approximately one-third of total dietary sodium intake among children and adults came from deli meat sandwiches (5.0%), pizza (4.4%), savory snacks (4.4%), soups (4.4%), poultry (3.8%), pasta mixed dishes (3.8%), bread (3.1%), and cheese (2.7%). Among subgroups, the highest contributor to sodium intake among children aged 1 to 11 years was savory snacks (approximately 8%) and among non-Hispanic Asian participants, soups (8.7%). Information on current top contributors to sodium intake can be leveraged to inform sodium reduction interventions.