and I wonder if salt has any "addictive" qualities matching sugar.
Not physical, but a subliminal one. Sure we need salt, but not in almost every type food. How about having high blood pressure & one's salt intake: you consider that? Read the labels sometimes: doesn't take much to "overdose" on salt intake. Like I said: an affinity towards it's. Sugar>Obesity>High Pressure>Excess Salt > probably what we're seeing now.