Level of Potassium Additives in Low-Sodium Meats May Be Unsafe for Patients with CKD

In an analysis of 19 sodium-reduced meat and poultry products from the main grocery store chains in Canada, the sodium-reduced products contained 25% to 55% less sodium than their non-sodium-reduced counterparts, but the potassium content of sodium-reduced products ranged from 210 to 1500 mg/100 g and was significantly higher than non-sodium-reduced products by 195 mg/100 g. Potassium-containing additives were found on the ingredient list in 63% of the sodium-reduced products and 25% of the non-sodium-reduced products. The amounts of phosphorus did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The findings were presented at ASN Kidney Week 2014.