Potassium Chloride - A Healthful Salt Substitute

Potassium chloride is a healthful salt substitute that can be used by food companies that want to obtain lower levels of sodium in the processed foods they make. At a time when regulatory and consumer pressures are tipping the scale in favor of lower sodium products, it’s vital for food manufacturers to have safe, high-performing sodium reduction ingredients that they can rely on. Potassium chloride is a leading reformulation option for reducing sodium in food products by the food industry.¹

Fast Facts on Potassium Chloride:

• Potassium chloride (KCl) is a potassium salt form that occurs naturally, typically extracted from ground or sea.
• When used in food manufacturing, potassium chloride can replace sodium chloride (table salt) and can help reduce sodium by up to 50% in certain applications. 
• Cargill Salt’s Potassium Pro® Potassium Chloride is almost completely composed of just two minerals – potassium and chloride.

Potassium Chloride & Health:

• Potassium is an essential mineral that is chemically quite similar to sodium. Potassium also serves as an important electrolyte in the body.
  • According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the average adult (19 years and above) should be consuming about 4,700 milligrams (mg) of potassium a day—but few consume that amount. ^2,3
  • Potassium can help regulate blood pressure levels, assist with nerve transmission, affect cardiovascular health, bone and muscle strength, and much more.²
• Chloride is another essential mineral and another one of the main electrolytes found in the body.⁴
  • Chloride plays a pivotal role in acid-base balance, maintenance of fluids in the body along with proper kidney function and nerve transmission.⁴
  • Chloride deficiency is not as common as potassium deficiency, but if chloride deficiency does occur, it can be fatal. ⁴

In general, consumers can feel confident when purchasing food products made with potassium chloride in place of sodium chloride for sodium reduction purposes that they’re choosing a safe, healthful ingredient.

Sources:

1. https://www.cdc.gov/salt/pdfs/sodium_role_processed.pdf
2. Innova Market Insights
3. https://www.verywellfit.com/why-theres-so-much-sodium-in-processed-foods-2507086
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture. What We Eat in America Cdc-pdf[PDF-64K]External. NHANES 2013-2014. Agricultural Research Service Website.