Ontario Tech University Launches Sodium 101 Web App Aimed at Tracking Salt Consumption

A new web application called Sodium 101 was launched on March 17, 2025, by Dr. JoAnne Arcand and her team at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, according to an announcement from the university. The development of the tool was supported by a donation from Manulife to Ontario Tech’s Tech with a Conscience fundraising campaign.

Sodium consumption is highlighted as a leading dietary risk factor for chronic conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, according to Ontario Tech University. The university states that most Canadians consume more than the recommended daily sodium limit of less than 2,000 milligrams, with more than 70 per cent of that sodium coming from packaged and processed foods. Dr. Arcand said, “We call it a ‘hidden epidemic’ because the majority of people do not feel the short-term negative health impacts of excess dietary sodium on their bodies and most sodium is hidden in foods.”

According to Dr. Arcand, concern about sodium generally arises only after a person develops a health condition, which she says complicates efforts to educate the public. Ontario Tech University states that Sodium 101 was created to raise awareness about the long-term risks of high sodium intake and to help users develop skills for reading food labels and identifying sodium sources, including those found in restaurants.

Ontario Tech University reports that the web app uses a step-by-step interactive format and includes an online Sodium Calculator previously developed by Dr. Arcand. The calculator enables users to assess their sodium intake and set personal reduction goals. The app offers educational material for both the general public and health-care providers, according to the university.

According to the World Health Organization, reducing dietary sodium intake by 30 per cent is one of nine global targets for preventing noncommunicable diseases.