Salt intake often higher than Dutch consumers think

Cutting back on salt sounds simple, but taste remains a deciding factor. That is precisely where health advice meets everyday practice. Those consumer preferences are directly relevant to the food industry. New research and a taste test show just how important taste is. The findings paint a striking picture of how Dutch consumers use salt.

Recommended amount reached by September

In 2026, ZoutMaxDag (Salt Max Day) fell on September 17. By then, adults ages 18 to 50 had, on average, reached that limit. This was the recommended amount of salt for the entire year. Foodwatch calculates this date using RIVM consumption data and the WHO guideline.

The Dutch Nutrition Center and Health Council advise adults to consume no more than six grams of salt per day. Only 27 percent meet this daily guideline. Yet nearly 70 percent consider their own salt intake healthy. In September, Norstat surveyed 1,001 people in the Netherlands age 18 and older. The sample was representative.

Adding salt is often done automatically

Nearly half routinely add extra salt while cooking. One in six adds salt at the table without tasting first. One in three expects dishes with less salt to taste worse.

According to the Dutch Kidney Foundation, most salt intake is hidden in everyday foods. Excess salt increases the risk of high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease, among other conditions.

Taste test with salt and natural vinegar

Tromp & Rueb also organized a taste test involving more than 1,300 people in the Netherlands. Participants sampled two hummus varieties in a blind tasting. One contained salt. The other was salt-free and contained natural vinegar. Of the participants, 57 percent chose the hummus with salt. The remaining 43 percent chose the salt-free version with natural vinegar. Many participants liked both versions and found it difficult to choose.

Nearly 70 percent do not know that natural vinegar can enhance flavor. Only one in three uses natural vinegar when cooking. Tromp & Rueb is a flavor partner of the Dutch Kidney Foundation. Both organizations advocate reducing salt without compromising taste.