Sodium and hypertension health claim.

What 21 CFR 101.74 covers

Section 101.74 is an authorized health claim for sodium and hypertension. It combines a statement of the regulation's own findings (paragraphs (a) and (b)), the requirements for using the claim (paragraph (c)), optional additions (d), and two model claims (e). The text is the eCFR version current through October 29, 2026, with history lines 58 FR 2836 (January 6, 1993) and 58 FR 17100 (April 1, 1993). This page reports the printed rule. It does not say what FDA has said or done since.

The regulation's own definitions

Paragraph (a)(1) defines hypertension as generally a systolic pressure greater than 140 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm Hg, and normotension as below those values. It also separates sodium, "the chemical entity or electrolyte," from sodium chloride, "which is 39 percent sodium by weight." Paragraph (b)(4) states that "experts have recommended a safe minimum level of 500 milligrams (mg) sodium per day and an upper level of 2,400 mg sodium per day, the FDA Daily Value for sodium." Those are the numbers printed in this section, which is a 1993 rule; this page reports them as printed and does not assert they are the current Daily Value.

Nature of the claim: paragraph (c)(2)(i)

• (A) States that diets low in sodium "may" or "might" reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
• (B) Uses the term "high blood pressure" to specify the disease.
• (C) Uses the term "sodium" to specify the nutrient.
• (D) Does not attribute any degree of reduction in risk of high blood pressure to diets low in sodium.
• (E) Indicates that development of high blood pressure depends on many factors.

Nature of the food: paragraph (c)(2)(ii)

The food must "meet all of the nutrient content requirements of 101.61 for a 'low sodium' food." In 101.61(b)(4) the "low sodium" test is: a reference amount customarily consumed greater than 30 g (or greater than 2 tablespoons) containing 140 mg or less of sodium per reference amount; or a reference amount of 30 g or less (or 2 tablespoons or less) containing 140 mg or less of sodium per reference amount and per 50 g. Meal and main dish products use 140 mg or less per 100 g (101.61(b)(5)). Paragraph (c)(1) also requires every condition in 101.14, which this page does not reproduce.

Optional information: paragraph (d)

• Other risk factors may be named: family history of high blood pressure, growing older, alcohol consumption, and excess weight.
• The summaries in paragraphs (a) and (b) may be included.
• The number of people in the United States with high blood pressure may be given if the source is identified and is current information from the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Institutes of Health, or the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• The claim may say it is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines, may add the word "salt" to "sodium," and may add "hypertension" to "high blood pressure."
• The claim may state that people with high blood pressure should consult their physicians; if it defines high or normal blood pressure, it must say so.

Model claims: paragraph (e)

Two model claims are printed: "Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a disease associated with many factors." and "Development of hypertension or high blood pressure depends on many factors. [This product] can be part of a low sodium, low salt diet that might reduce the risk of hypertension or high blood pressure."

Worked example

A snack with a 30 g reference amount has 120 mg sodium per reference amount and 190 mg per 50 g. Because the reference amount is 30 g or less, both numbers must be 140 mg or less. 120 passes but 190 does not, so the product fails the "low sodium" definition and cannot carry the claim. A soup with a 245 g reference amount and 130 mg per reference amount passes the single test. The calculator above runs this two-branch logic.

Limits of this page

The tool tests only the 140 mg threshold in 101.61(b)(4). It does not check meal and main dish rules, the general 101.14 disqualifying nutrient test, or label formatting. It is not nutrition advice and says nothing about anyone's blood pressure.

Sources

Sources opened and read November 2, 2026.

• eCFR: 21 CFR 101.74, Health claims: sodium and hypertension (current through October 29, 2026) (read November 2, 2026)
• eCFR: 21 CFR 101.61, Nutrient content claims for the sodium content of foods (read November 2, 2026)