The findings from this study suggest that specific dietary
intake methods can usefully estimate mean sodium
intakes at the population level. This is consistent with
reports from the USDA Automated Multiple Pass Method
Validation study which uses a 24-h dietary recall method
[27]. The latter study reported that sodium intake was
underestimated by less than 9% in comparison to the sodium
biomarker and the authors suggest that dietary
intake methods are an acceptable measure at the population/
group level for estimating sodium intakes. Failure to
capture discretionary salt or salt added during cooking or
at the table is a major factor in the underestimation of
daily sodium intake [23]. However, one of the unique
features of the 24-h dietary recall method used in this
study is the use of prompts for discretionary salt and the
careful questioning by trained research assistants
regarding actual portion size consumed, eating times and
food labels.