Small fraction of Americans meet salt guidelines

ATLANTA (AP) — A new government report shows that only a small fraction of U.S. adults are meeting strict limits on salt consumption.

Most adults should be eating less than a teaspoon of salt each day to prevent high blood pressure, stroke and other problems. The report say only one in 18 meet that goal.

Health officials say 70 percent of adults need to be stingy with salt. That includes people with high blood pressure, African-Americans and anyone over 40.

The research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was released Thursday.