Salt & Sodium
BasicOverview
Salt and sodium compounds are fundamental ingredients that serve vastly different roles in ultra-processed foods compared to traditional cooking, with industrial formulations containing up to 30 different sodium-based additives. While table salt accounts for only 10% of sodium in processed foods, the remaining 90% comes from industrial sodium compounds that provide preservation, texture, and flavor enhancement.
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Products contain this
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Ingredient variations
Common forms
All types of salt including sea salt, kosher salt, sodium chloride
Function
In ultra-processed foods, sodium compounds function as preservatives, pH regulators, emulsifiers, and texture modifiers beyond simple seasoning. Industrial sodium phosphates improve water retention in processed meats, while sodium citrate prevents protein coagulation in processed cheese products.
Sources
Industrial sodium compounds are manufactured through chemical processes including electrolysis for sodium hydroxide, neutralization reactions for sodium citrate, and phosphate mining for sodium phosphates. These production methods require specialized chemical facilities distinct from traditional salt harvesting.
Health Considerations
Processed foods contribute 71% of sodium intake in American diets, with ultra-processed foods containing sodium levels 2-4 times higher than home-prepared equivalents. Multiple sodium compounds in single products create cumulative intake that differs significantly from traditional salt usage patterns.
Regulatory
FDA regulations establish Daily Value of 2,300mg sodium with mandatory Nutrition Facts labeling, though individual sodium compounds have varying GRAS status and usage limits. The 2022 FDA sodium reduction targets encourage voluntary reformulation of processed foods across 163 categories.
Common Variations (50 total)
Products Containing Salt & Sodium
Showing 12 of 1,294,308 products, sorted by processing level