Every grain counts

Draining and rinsing canned foods is one of several ways to reduce salt intake.

- JENNIFER BOWDEN

QUESTION:

I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and need to cut the amount of salt I eat. Is the listed sodium content of tinned foods such as corn, mixed beans, smoked salmon and tuna the result of testing a mix of liquid plus solid? If I drain off the brine and rinse the corn and beans, and drain the tinned fish, will the sodium content of remaining solids be lower per 100g?

ANSWER:

If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, or hypertension, you're probably now eyeing every pinch of salt with suspicion – and rightly so. Hypertension, commonly defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications. But what about tinned foods such as corn or beans, often packed in salty brine?

In New Zealand, the sodium values on tinned foods usually refer to the solid contents after draining the liquid. The brine or water in the tin is typically not included, though it's always worth double-checking the food label, as some manufacturers specify this. Then the solids are usually analysed without rinsing, so the labelled sodium represents a “worst case scenario”.