Table 2.

Links in the evidentiary chain: different types of scientific evidence that contributed to regulatory action on salt in South Africa

Evidence of the amount of salt consumed across South Africa, and within different population groups. Evidence of how salt was consumed (i.e. in processed foods or as discretionary salt). Evidence of which foods contributed to greatest salt intake(78) Food composition tables, showing the natural salt content of commonly-consumed foods Epidemiological data showing rates of hypertension Intervention studies (i.e. evidence that reducing salt consumption can reduce hypertension, such as the study by Charlton et al.(52)) Health economic data about the relative cost of different interventions