In order to help drive progress towards the global target to reduce mean population sodium intake by 30% by 2025 for the prevention and control of NCDs, WHO established the global benchmarks for sodium levels in foods across different food categories, building on country experience of salt reduction. This is a report of a series of expert meetings, which WHO convened from November 2020 until March 2021. The meetings were held virtually to review the results of the analyses of the existing country data on sodium targets; to assess priority food categories for which global sodium benchmarks should be developed; and to assess and finalize global sodium benchmarks for identified priority food categories.