Should salt in food be regulated by government to save us from hypertension?

The relationship between salt and hypertension is a complicated one and, contrary to what the medical media seems to be saying, not well agreed upon. Although it is plausible that we consume much more salt than our evolutionary forebears did, and hence that harm may result, the details are quite murky. There have been papers suggesting that too muach salt restriction actually increases mortality in hypertensive populations; the "safe" upper limit is not as well defined as the media implies.

You are right in your observation that salt restriction has only a minor effect on BP levels, especially if the BP increase is mild or moderate(these terms are reasonably well defined).

Unfortunately, as is often the case, a medical issue is taken up by the media (both the medical and mass media) and misrepresented, the reasons for such misreporting being quite varied and complex. There was a medical researcher back in the 80s and 90s that started this focus on salt use and hypertension(I can't recall his name). His papers and opinions were used as talking points for a long time. His work was later discredited but the effects of his work continue to this day.

Good question: individual freedom versus the public weal.

Unfortunately, the processed food industry has no soul. They don't give a rat's a** whether the individual lives or dies, just so long as they choose their product over Brand X. Salt, sugar and fat are the great flavor enhancers. The public be damned. What's important is the stock price of my company and whether or not I'll get that seven-figure bonus.

A significant segment of the population says that this should be an individual choice. We are free to leave such processed foods on the supermarket shelves or not. I bet they're happy I'm not king.

No. People are warned frequently about the dangers of excessive salt intake. They can choose to eat the triple ba-co-cheese mega burger if they want - or not.

I do think that most processed foods could be made with half the salt (or less) than is presently used. However, then the makers would actually have to use ingredients that had good flavor.

Yes, regulation would be a great idea.Processed foods have way too much salt.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gov't. are NOT nannies! Adults get to CHOOSE.

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No,it has ZERO to do w/high BP.