nutrient
Chloride
An essential electrolyte that accompanies sodium in extracellular fluid and contributes to fluid, charge and acid-base balance.
Chloride is most commonly consumed as sodium chloride, so its intake is closely coupled to sodium. The source and declared salt or chloride unit matter.
What it does
Chloride is the main extracellular anion. It helps maintain electroneutrality and fluid distribution and contributes to gastric hydrochloric acid. Sodium and chloride balances are closely linked in typical European diets.
Where it comes from
The adult chloride value is equimolar to the sodium reference because sodium chloride is the main dietary source.
Related topics
Chloride forms table salt with Sodium
Sodium chloride is the main dietary source that couples sodium and chloride in many food records.
Worth knowing
Salt is the main food source. Table salt is sodium chloride. Food labels often report salt or sodium rather than chloride itself, so a missing chloride value does not mean the food contains none.
A closer look
Why its reference follows sodium
EFSA found insufficient evidence to derive an average requirement or population reference intake directly for chloride. Its safe and adequate intake was instead linked to sodium, reflecting their shared dietary source in salt.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.
- European Food Safety AuthorityDietary reference values for chlorideChecked 2026-09-05