Late last year, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 — jointly published by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services — decisively told Americans to limit foods and beverages higher in four areas: sodium, added sugars, saturated fat and alcohol. While the guidelines’ recommended sodium intake levels stayed the same from the report five years ago, for the first time the guidelines highlighted healthy sodium limits for every age group, including infants and toddlers.

The guidelines recommend consumers use the Nutrition Facts label to choose products with less sodium, reduced sodium or no salt added, etc. Reducing sodium in meat and poultry products is top of mind for many processors, but sandwiches, poultry, meat, poultry-and-seafood mixed dishes, deli and cured products remain top sources of sodium intake in the U.S. population.