From Talia Morris, Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Yes, there is a problem with salt addiction, but it is social rather than biological. A liking for salty food is far from universal and is probably acquired rather than innate. In family homes and in restaurants, the salt shaker is a ubiquitous presence on the table. Many people add salt to their food before they even taste it (8 June, p 32).
When I was growing up, not only did my mother cook with a fairly modest amount of salt, I was always encouraged to taste food before adding anything to it. And almost always, I was happy with it the way it was and didn’t add salt. As a result, I grew up without any particular fondness for salty food.
Altering the sodium content of table salt could be good for public health, but avoiding habituation to a high-salt diet would be a better long-term solution.
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