George Institute welcomes new WHO guidance on potassium-enriched salt

The World Health Organization has strengthened its global guidance on sodium reduction and included new recommendations on potassium-enriched salt as part of its SHAKE package -  a framework for countries to create a successful salt reduction strategy.

The George Institute for Global Health supports the updated package, published this week, which is a key tool for countries working to tackle hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

The revised SHAKE package provides governments with evidence-based guidance to reduce population sodium intake through food reformulation, front-of-pack labelling, marketing restrictions, procurement policies and public education. A major addition is a dedicated section on potassium-enriched salt, reflecting growing recognition of its role as a safe, scalable and cost-effective strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Associate Professor Kathy Trieu, Program Lead for Nutrition Implementation Research at The George Institute and a contributing expert to the updated package, said the inclusion of potassium-enriched salt marks a significant advance.

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Countries have struggled for years to reduce sodium intake at the population level. By adding guidance on potassium-enriched salt, the WHO is giving governments another powerful and practical tool to accelerate progress.

Replacing regular salt with potassium-enriched salt lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke and heart disease. It’s also acceptable to consumers. Including this in the SHAKE package will help countries translate evidence into policy and practice.

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Professor Trieu

The update comes at a critical time with global sodium intakes still at more than double WHO’s recommended limit, contributing to high blood pressure - the world’s leading risk factor for death. The addition of potassium-enriched salt aligns with WHO’s global guideline released last year, which formally recommends its use.

The George Institute has played a leading role in building the evidence base for this guidance, including conducting landmark clinical trials, implementation research  and global modelling showing the potential number of lives saved if countries switch from regular salt to potassium-enriched salt.

Associate Professor Trieu said the new SHAKE edition equips governments, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, with clearer pathways and practical tools for change.

The George Institute will continue working with the WHO, governments and partners to support implementation of the updated SHAKE package and to advance scalable strategies, such as potassium-enriched salt, that can help countries meet global targets to reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular disease.