The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a decision allowing manufacturers to change the name of "potassium chloride" on ingredient labels to "potassium chloride salt" in a bid to help consumers find a healthier alternative.

"When salt is added to packaged foods, it is primarily sodium chloride, which is commonly referred to as 'salt' on ingredient labels," the FDA said in a statement.

Sodium chloride is the salt we consume daily and can cause high blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart disease, as warned by the American Heart Association.

On the other hand, potassium chloride tastes and acts like salt, but it does not add harmful sodium to the diet, according to the FDA.

"Potassium chloride also has the added benefit of containing potassium, a nutrient that is often under-consumed by Americans," the FDA said.

The new proposition is part of the FDA's Nutrition Innovation Strategy, announced in 2018. The initiative is meant to "reduce preventable death and disease related to poor nutrition," according to the FDA's website.