Webster Jacqueline L, Li Nicole, Dunford Elizabeth K, Nowson Caryl A, Neal Bruce C
The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2010;19(4):550-4.
Australians are eating far more salt than is good for health. In May 2007, the Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) launched a campaign to reduce population salt intake. A consumer survey was commissioned to quantify baseline aspects of awareness and behaviour related to salt and health amongst Australians. A total of 1084 individuals aged 14 years or over were surveyed by ACA Research using an established consumer panel. Participants were selected to include people of each sex, within different age bands, from major metropolitan and other areas of all Australian states and territories. Participants were invited via email to complete a brief questionnaire online. Two-thirds knew that salt was bad for health but only 14% knew the recommended maximum daily intake. Seventy percent correctly identified that most dietary salt comes from processed foods but only a quarter regularly checked food labels for salt content. Even fewer reported their food purchases were influenced by the salt level indicated (21%). The survey showed a moderate understanding of how salt effects health but there was little evidence of action to reduce salt intake. Consumer education will be one part of the effort necessary to reduce salt intake in Australia and will require government investment in a targeted campaign to achieve improvements in knowledge and behaviours.
澳大利亚人摄入的盐分远远超过健康标准。2007年5月，澳大利亚世界盐与健康行动组织（AWASH）发起了一项旨在减少民众盐摄入量的运动。委托开展了一项消费者调查，以量化澳大利亚人在盐与健康方面的认知和行为的基线情况。ACA研究机构利用一个成熟的消费者样本对1084名14岁及以上的个人进行了调查。参与者的选择涵盖了澳大利亚所有州和领地的主要大都市及其他地区不同年龄段的男女。通过电子邮件邀请参与者在线完成一份简短问卷。三分之二的人知道盐对健康有害，但只有14%的人知道每日推荐的最大摄入量。70%的人正确指出大多数膳食盐来自加工食品，但只有四分之一的人会定期查看食品标签上的盐含量。更少的人表示他们的食品购买会受到所标明的盐含量的影响（21%）。该调查显示人们对盐如何影响健康有一定程度的了解，但几乎没有采取行动减少盐摄入量的迹象。消费者教育将是澳大利亚减少盐摄入量所需努力的一部分，并且需要政府投资开展有针对性的运动，以实现知识和行为方面的改善。
