in 2010, the u.s. institute of medicine determined that the government should establish new consumption standards for salt to reduce the amount of sodium in the typical american diet below levels associated with higher risk of several cardiovascular diseases, yet maintain consumer preferences for salt-flavored food. the daily maximum for sodium in the united states had been above estimated minimums for decades. for instance, the national research council found that 500 milligrams of sodium per day (approximately 1,250 milligrams of table salt) is a safe minimum level. in the united kingdom, the daily allowance for salt is 6 g (approximately 2.5 teaspoons, about the upper limit in the u.s.), an amount considered "too high".