A salt composition consisting of an alkali metal chloride, a carboxymethyl cellulose and 0 to 90% of other ingredients, wherein the carboxymethyl cellulose, has a viscosity of from 200 to 15,000 mPa-s, measured as a 2 weight percent aqueous solution at 20° C. using a Haake RS 1 viscometer with a cylinder system Z34 DIN at 10.0 s−1. The carboxymethyl cellulose can be used for increasing the perceived saltiness provided by an alkali metal chloride, such as sodium chloride, or for reducing the amount of an alkali metal chloride, such as sodium chloride in a fluid or solid food composition.