Browsing by Author "Voutilainen, Salla"

Aims. The aim of this research is to find out what adults who are interested in their salt intake think of diet modifying, food choice and groceries with lowered salt-content. While food choice is a popular subject in the area of home economics science, salt as the criterion of food choice has not been looked into before. This research focuses on the reasons that get respondents to reduce their daily intake of salt. Also the actions and means to reduce the salt intake are under examination. Respondents' opinions of and wishes for the salt concentrations of food-items and the actions of grocery stores and food industry are also studied. Methods. The data for this qualitative research were collected by semi-structured interviews. The interviewees were selected discretionarily because it was important for them to be interested in and have experience of the phenomenon that is in the center of this research. Eleven interviews were done all in all. Three of the interviewees were male and eight were female. In addition to the interviews, the interviewees did a practical assignment. In this assignment they were asked to arrange some groceries in line by their salt concentration. The data were analyzed inductively by using qualitative content analysis. After transcription of the data the main themes were simplified and grouped. In grouping the focus was rather in the similarities than in the differences of the themes. Results and conclusions. The results imply that people first comply with a low salt diet because of their health. There were many different health reasons, such as pregnancy, high blood pressure in a test, or trait that runs in the family. Often the decision to reduce salt in everyday diet was made together with a health professional. People got help in reducing salt in their food choices. Some were actively looking for more information by googling or reading health magazines. Reducing salt intake was not too hard by the experience of the respondents. Most challenging in it was to find products with lowered salt-content. People hoped for the food industry to reduce salt in groceries. Salt and the health problems it causes would need more coverage in the media to raise people's awareness. In addition to that, grocery stores and food industry would need to take some crucial steps, if the aim is to lower the daily intake of salt of Finns into the level of nutrition recommendations.