We reviewed dietary intake data from 9255 respondents who completed an in-person 24-h dietary recall as part of What We Eat in America (WWEIA), NHANES 2007–2008 (22 ). WWEIA, NHANES is an ongoing dietary intake survey of the nationally representative, noninstitutionalized US population of all ages. Sodium density (mg/100 g of food), frequency of consumption by respondents in the survey, and percentage of contribution to sodium intake of commercially processed and restaurant foods were carefully evaluated to determine the list of 125 sentinel foods. Table 1 shows examples of the sentinel foods, by food type [adapted from the WWEIA food categories (23 )]. Supplemental Table 1 lists all of the foods. Approximately half of the sentinel foods are in the 10 food categories that contribute the most sodium to the US diet according to the CDC (4 ). Other sentinel foods, such as catsup (“condiments and sauces”) and French fries (“potato products”), are foods with high sodium density and/or that are very popular.
Approximately three-fourths of the sentinel foods are commercially processed (92 of 125), and the rest come from fast-food or restaurant chains (33 sentinel foods). Sentinel foods account for approximately one-third of the total sodium intake of all individuals, excluding breastfed infants, in WWEIA 2007–2008. The USDA validated the accuracy of mean dietary sodium intake estimates in the survey by comparing these data to the results of 24-h urinary sodium excretion tests (24 (link)).
Approximately three-fourths of the sentinel foods are commercially processed (92 of 125), and the rest come from fast-food or restaurant chains (33 sentinel foods). Sentinel foods account for approximately one-third of the total sodium intake of all individuals, excluding breastfed infants, in WWEIA 2007–2008. The USDA validated the accuracy of mean dietary sodium intake estimates in the survey by comparing these data to the results of 24-h urinary sodium excretion tests (24 (link)).
