Silent Salt Consumption Epidemic:
The ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) has flagged a silent health crisis in India due to excessive salt intake, launching a community-driven intervention in Punjab and Telangana to promote low-sodium alternatives. Silent Salt Consumption Epidemic is a a public health crisis marked by widespread excessive intake of salt, contributing silently to chronic diseases. Average salt consumption in urban India is 9.2g/day, and 5.6g/day in rural areas — both exceeding the WHO’s safe limit of 5g/day. A three-year project aims to study salt-reduction counselling to lower blood pressure and sodium intake. Pilot States: Punjab and Telangana have been selected for targeted interventions among hypertensive individuals.
