Chloride
Cl · last AI check: 2026-07-19
In short
An electrolyte supplied mainly by table salt (sodium chloride). Needed for the production of stomach acid.
What it does in the body
The sentences below are officially authorised EU health claims.
Chloride contributes to normal digestion by production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach EU health claim
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012, Annex — list of permitted health claims · register entry: 326 · EFSA opinion: 2010;8(10):1764
Condition of use on a product: The product is at least a source of Chloride.
Restriction: The claim may not be used for chloride from sodium chloride.
How much you need
| Country / organisation | Group | Value | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFSA | adults | SAI Safe and adequate intake — an EFSA value used where a requirement cannot be set (e.g. sodium, chloride). | |
| EFSA | children 1–3 years | SAI Safe and adequate intake — an EFSA value used where a requirement cannot be set (e.g. sodium, chloride). | |
| EFSA | children 4–6 years | SAI Safe and adequate intake — an EFSA value used where a requirement cannot be set (e.g. sodium, chloride). | |
| EFSA | children 7–10 years | SAI Safe and adequate intake — an EFSA value used where a requirement cannot be set (e.g. sodium, chloride). | |
| EFSA | adolescents 11–17 years | SAI Safe and adequate intake — an EFSA value used where a requirement cannot be set (e.g. sodium, chloride). | |
| NASEM (US/CA) | adults | AI Adequate intake — an approximate value used when data are insufficient to set an exact requirement (RDA). | |
| Philippines | adults | AI Adequate intake — an approximate value used when data are insufficient to set an exact requirement (RDA). | |
| Poland | adult men | AI Adequate intake — an approximate value used when data are insufficient to set an exact requirement (RDA). | |
| Switzerland | adults | AI Adequate intake — an approximate value used when data are insufficient to set an exact requirement (RDA). | |
| United Kingdom | adults | RNI Reference nutrient intake — the RDA equivalent in WHO/FAO, UK and Philippine terminology. |
Reference values from different countries are not directly comparable — they differ in definition and age group. How to read reference values →
Every value states its source — click it to see the document, location and link.Data and content are prepared and cross-checked against source documents by several independent AI models. They have not been audited by a human editor.Before citing a value, check it in the source document — verification is automated (AI), not editorial.
Worth knowing
In the diet, chlorine occurs almost exclusively as chloride — the ion that accompanies sodium in table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). Because of this, its intake in practice follows the intake of salt and sodium, and separate deficiencies or excesses outside the context of sodium are rare.
Chloride is an essential component of the hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach, which takes part in protein digestion and in protecting against micro-organisms swallowed with food.
EFSA's value for chlorine was missing from the 2017 summary report, because the assessment of the values for sodium and chloride was carried out separately at the time. EFSA adopted both opinions in July 2019, and the values in the table above come from them. It's worth noting how they were derived: for chlorine, it wasn't possible to establish either an average requirement or a recommended intake, because biomarkers of its nutritional status and balance studies are lacking. Instead, EFSA derived the values equimolarly from the sodium values, on the assumption that the same table salt is the main dietary source of both ions. This is a rare case of a reference value that is, in essence, a conversion of another reference value.
There's one more regulatory catch worth noting here. The EU claim about chloride's contribution to digestion may not be used for chloride derived from sodium chloride — precisely the source that in practice supplies most of it. A manufacturer can therefore only invoke this claim for other chlorine compounds, such as potassium chloride.
Where to find it
table salt · salted and processed foods · vegetables (in smaller amounts)
This material is for information and education. It does not replace advice from a doctor or dietitian. For health matters, consult a qualified medical professional.