Nutrient Reference Values - Public Consultation on Draft Recommendations for Sodium

Overview

NHMRC is inviting feedback on updated Draft Recommendations for Sodium, to be included in the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand.

What are Nutrient Reference Values?

The Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) are evidence-based guidelines that describe how much of each nutrient – like sodium – people should consume to stay healthy. By providing a scientific foundation for both individual nutrition and public health decision making, NRVs help to improve the overall health of the population and reduce the burden of diet-related diseases in Australia and New Zealand.

Why have the sodium NRVs been reviewed?

The sodium NRVs have been reviewed to ensure they reflect the latest scientific evidence and provide clear, consistent guidance across all stages of life. This is particularly important because sodium intakes for many Australians and New Zealanders remain above levels recommended for optimal health, while cardiovascular disease continues to be a major cause of illness and premature death. The NRVs are an important tool used by governments, health professionals, academics and the food industry to guide nutrition policy, research, health advice and food regulation. Updating these values helps ensure that decisions affecting population health are informed by the best available evidence.

The role of the NHMRC NRVs

NHMRC NRVs are not regulatory; they are developed to protect and improve the health of the population. Regulatory limits that determine permitted nutrient levels in medicines, supplements and food products are informed by NHMRC NRVs, but are developed by regulators such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).

How were the recommendations developed?

The review was guided by the 2026 NHMRC NRV Methodological Framework and conducted in accordance with the NHMRC Standards for Guidelines. Existing sodium recommendations from comparable international bodies were assessed for suitability and adapted to the Australian and New Zealand context. To support this process, evidence underpinning those recommendations was considered alongside supplementary evidence from systematic reviews and Australian or New Zealand population data or primary studies. These evidence sources were summarised and synthesised in an Evidence Summary Report. The report includes an Evidence-to-Decision framework, which documents how the evidence and relevant contextual factors were considered in developing the final recommendations.

A Sodium Expert Working Group advised on the review process and final recommendations. The Working Group comprised experts in:

• Sodium
• Nutrition
• Public health
• Chronic disease
• Nutrient deficiency/toxicity
• Methodology
• Modelling
• End user needs.

Additional methodological advice was provided by a Steering Group Advisory Committee.

What has changed with the revised sodium NRVs?

Recommendations for adults (including during pregnancy and breastfeeding), children and adolescents have been reviewed. Infant NRVs have not been reviewed at this time and will be the subject of a separate review in due course.

The current recommendations for sodium comprise:

• AI recommendations for ensuring adequate sodium intake
• A SDT for adults, specifying a daily average nutrient intake that may help to prevent chronic disease
• An UL of intake for children and adolescents, reflecting the highest average daily sodium intake that is likely to pose no adverse health effects in almost all individuals.

The main changes proposed include:

• Changing the AI from a range to a single value to make the recommendation easier to interpret and better reflect the level of intake considered adequate for most people in the general population
• Renaming the term SDT to CDRR, consistent with the revised 2026 Methodological Framework and international terminology. The current SDT for adults will be retained as a CDRR
• Establishing a CDRR value for children and adolescents and revising the UL to ‘not set’. These changes better reflect that the primary concern with high sodium intake is an increased risk of chronic disease over time, rather than toxicity from excessive intake.

The draft recommendations also include recommendations for additional age groupings for children, aligned with school level, which facilitate comparison against intakes reported in national surveys. A slight adjustment to adult age groups is also proposed, aligned with Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting.

Further information

For further information on NRVs and the updated sodium recommendations, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

How can I make a submission?

Submissions should be made via the online form (click 'Share your views' below).

The form invites responses on questions covering a range of topics and provides space for additional comments. This is an opportunity to provide any additional feedback not covered in the consultation questions.  

You do not have to respond to all questions. Please focus on the topics of most interest to you and/or your organisation.

The closing date for submissions is 30 September 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

If you would prefer to make a submission via email, please download the 'Email Submission Form', at the bottom of this page. 

Please see below for a downloadable version of the draft recommendations, together with the Frequently Asked Questions and Evidence Summary Report (which includes the Evidence-to-Decision framework). 

Other NHMRC public consultations

NHMRC’s updated Nutrient Reference Values for Vitamin B6 are also currently out for public consultation.

If you experience any difficulty accessing a document or require content in an alternative format, please contact us at WebRequest@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance.

Why your views matter

The information provided during this consultation will help us to understand whether our guidance has considered all relevant factors and is appropriate and implementable. Your feedback will help to improve our recommendations about sodium requirements, ensuring that it is as relevant and user-friendly as possible.