Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare K.G. Arunraj on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) announced in the Legislative Assembly that the State government would implement a Statewide mission to reduce the amount of salt in the daily diet of the public.
Dr. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that a person should consume less than five grams of salt a day. Based on this scientific evidence, the State government has decided to formulate and implement an integrated strategy to reduce high salt consumption in Tamil Nadu, Dr.
Nearly 50% of medically certified deaths in Tamil Nadu are caused by cardiovascular diseases. Approximately 1.8 crore people in Tamil Nadu are living with hypertension. However, scientific studies indicate that the people of Tamil Nadu consume an average of 7 to 8 grams of salt per day. Studies have also found that approximately 88% of the salt consumed as part of the South Indian diet comes from salt added during cooking at home. Further, an international study involving approximately 21,000 people who used a low-sodium salt substitute, in which a portion of the sodium was replaced with potassium, demonstrated a 14% reduction in strokes and a 12% reduction in overall mortality.
Arunraj said non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and kidney disorders were among the most important public health challenges in Tamil Nadu. Global scientific studies have established that even a reduction of just one gram of salt per day can significantly lower blood pressure, he said. Arunraj said.
