Can You Label Your Food Low-Sodium? The FDA Rule
Low sodium sells to anyone watching their heart, so it is a tempting line to add. But low sodium is a defined claim with a hard number, and no salt added is a different promise people mix up with it. Here is what each one takes.
Sodium-free means under five milligrams
Sodium-free is less than 5 milligrams of sodium in a serving, and salt-free means the same limit. It counts all the sodium in the food, not just the salt you added, so an ingredient that carries its own sodium can push you over even if you never reached for the shaker.
Low sodium means 140 milligrams or less
Low sodium is 140 milligrams of sodium or less in a serving, measured against the FDA's reference serving. If your normal serving is small, the rule also holds you to 140 milligrams per 50 grams, so a tiny serving cannot slip under the line. Very low sodium is a stricter tier at 35 milligrams or less.
No salt added and reduced sodium are their own claims
No salt added, or unsalted, means you added no salt or salt-containing ingredient while making the food, and the version people expect is normally salted. It says nothing about how much sodium the food already has. If that food is not actually sodium-free, the label has to say so near the claim, with a line like not a sodium-free food, so a shopper is not misled.
Reduced sodium, or less sodium, is a comparison: at least 25 percent less sodium than the regular version, with the label naming what it is compared to and by how much. A reduced-sodium food can still be high in sodium if the original was, so it is not the same as low sodium.
What Nutripane does and does not do
Nutripane calculates the sodium in your recipe from USDA values and builds the panel, the ingredient list, and the allergen line. It does not verify that your serving lands under the low-sodium or sodium-free limit, because that depends on your exact recipe and serving size. Treat the sodium number as a solid estimate, confirm it before you print the claim, and check the current FDA rule.
Questions
What is the difference between low sodium and reduced sodium?
Low sodium means 140 milligrams of sodium or less in a serving, a fixed limit. Reduced sodium means at least 25 percent less than the regular version, a comparison. A reduced-sodium food can still be high in sodium if the original was, so the two are not interchangeable.
Does a sodium claim require a Nutrition Facts panel?
Yes. Any sodium claim is a nutrient content claim, which forces a full Nutrition Facts panel and voids the exemptions that let some cottage sellers skip it. Plan on providing the panel if you want the words.
Keep reading
This page is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food and food labeling rules vary by state and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program and the FDA before you sell. See your state's rules or how to label your product.