ATLANTA, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new study showing 9 out 10 children eats too much salt. In fact, the report shows kids 6-18 eat an average of 3,300 milligrams of salt per day, before salt is added at the table.
The report shows that is way higher than the daily recommended intake of salt, which is 2,300 milligrams.
The majority of their daily salt intake comes from their favorite foods, like pizza, sandwich meats, cheese, chicken nuggets and pasta dishes.
That same study also finds 1 out of 6 children has raised blood pressure, which can be lowered by a healthy diet, including eating less sodium.
The CDC also said that lunch and dinner tend to be the saltiest meals of the day.
In a statement, CDC Director Tom Frieden said, "Most sodium is already in food before you buy it or order it. About 65 percent comes from store foods, 13 percent from fast food and pizza restaurant foods, and nine percent from school cafeteria foods."
To combat how much salt is eaten by children, the CDC is applying new nutrition standards for foods sold and served in schools that will reduce sodium up to 50% by 2022.
