It’s actually bigger than a battle over a popular condiment, according to some folks who oppose what they say is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) overplaying its regulatory hand.

We’re not going to settle this controversy here, but some experts suggest you may be able to sprinkle a little salt on your food without feeling guilty about increasing your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

However, some say the FDA has gotten too activist and one-sided in its approach to the condiment, and that it’s just another sign that the FDA in 2012 will be more strident with regulatory overreach that won’t help food consumers and will harm food manufacturers.

The FDA is generally following the lead of a 2010 report from the IOM that says salt contributes to serious health problems. The agency is working on a guidance now that would promote ways to reduce salt consumption by Americans in their diet.

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