Americans consume on average 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day-nearly 50% more than the 2,300 mg limit recommended by federal guidelines for people 14 years of age and older. It is also well known that consuming too much sodium can raise blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. But there is a lot of complexity involved in estimating dietary intake in America and its relationship to public health. This webinar will present recent data on the public health impact of consuming excess sodium, the FDA’s approach to address sodium reduction in food and information on how the Agriculture Department’s Food Surveys Research Group estimates sodium in reported food and beverage intake through the ‘What We Eat in America’ survey. Attendees will also learn about new research on the top food category contributors of sodium to the diet as well as the overall dietary value of those foods to meeting nutritional recommendations. Participants will discuss the potential impact on dietary messaging to reduce sodium and improve dietary intake for consumers.