Healthy council pours £335 down the hole

A COUNCIL has gone to extraordinary lengths to reduce the amount of salt people consume – by limiting the number of holes in fish and chip shop salt dispensers.

North East Lincolnshire Council found that most fish and chip shops in the borough were using salt shakers with 17 holes, and it has now issued "healthier" shakers with only five holes.

The council said the 17-hole dispensers give an "instant, generous flow of salt" in a single shake, which could be unhealthy.

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It said shakers with fewer holes allowed customers to apply salt in a more controlled manner. The council asked nearly 50 premises to take part in a trial with the new shakers, and 90 per cent have chosen to keep them.

Coun Steve Hocknell, portfolio holder for healthier communities and adult social care, said: "The salt shaker exchange aimed to have a positive impact on people's health without attempting to change their behaviour.

"When people use the traditional salt shakers, they receive a relatively high amount of salt with just a single shake, regardless of how much they actually want, whereas the new shakers make it easier for people to add a smaller amount.

"I'm really pleased at how successful this initiative has been – it just goes to show that the simple ideas often are the most effective ones."

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The council spent 335 buying 120 salt shakers for the project.

Sam Burch, who works at Smith's fish and chip shop in Yarborough Road, Grimsby, said: "It's not good having too much salt but if they want lots they will still put lots on anyway.

"I love my salt but I don't have vinegar."

The recommended daily consumption of salt for adults is six grammes, which is about a teaspoonful.

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