How the FDA’s salt rule could change packaged foods
Cheddar and canned corn are among the foods covered.
- Event / announcement date
- 2026-10-13
An October 13 FDA rule allows salt substitutes in certain standardized foods starting December 14, 2026. Proper objections could delay some dairy provisions. [1]
Cheddar and canned corn fall under the amended recipe standards. Substitutes must do salt’s job. The FDA says flavoring could suffice in canned corn because heat already controls spoilage. [1]
A CDC analysis of 2013–14 dietary surveys estimated that about 61% of sodium from reported foods and drinks came from items obtained at stores. That estimate excluded salt added at the table. [2]
Researchers tracking top-selling branded foods in 2009 and 2015 matched products by barcode and compared sodium per 100 grams. That kept smaller serving sizes from looking like recipe changes. [3]
The sodium line on the Nutrition Facts panel lets shoppers compare two products. Serving sizes matter. A smaller labeled serving can show less sodium even when equal portions of the two products contain the same amount. [4]
The source
- FDA via Federal Register: Use of Salt Substitutes To Reduce the Sodium Content in Standardized Foods ↗
Source date 2026-10-13 · reviewed November 7, 2026 - CDC MMWR: Sodium Intake Among Persons Aged ≥2 Years — United States, 2013–2014 ↗
Source date 2017-03-31 · reviewed November 7, 2026 - NYC Health Department researchers via CDC: Changes in Serving Size, Calories, and Sodium Content in Processed Foods From 2009 to 2015 ↗
Source date 2018-03-15 · reviewed November 7, 2026 - FDA: How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label ↗
Undated reference · reviewed November 7, 2026 · No publication date is given on this reference.
About this item: Retrospective report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.
