Take that with(out) a pinch of salt...

[Gob]

Salt shakers are being removed from counters and table-tops at curry houses, fish and chip shops and cafes in a council-backed health drive.

It means thousands of customers in Greater Manchester will have to specifically ask for salt if they want to add it to their food.

It comes just months before supermarkets are due to remove cigarette displays nationwide under a Government-enforced ban. Corner shops will have to remove tobacco from sight by 2015.

In Stockport, five shops have already signed up to the 'out of sight, out of mind' scheme and the council hope it will spread.

Among them is Taylor's Fish and Chips in Woodley, where manager Anne Wallace says customers often ask for salt without thinking.

She said: 'We just wanted people to stop and think. Don't just shake it for the sake of it.'

Gatley Tandoori, Chilli Massala and Last Monsoon in Edgeley and Startpoint cafe in Woodley have also signed up to the new scheme.

The move is part of the Stockport council-backed ASK campaign.

It aims to cut excessive salt consumption, which is linked to high blood pressure, stomach cancer and asthma.

Businesses that sign up to the scheme will display an ASK symbol in their windows. It is not the first time the council has tried to shake up fast food addicts.

In 2009 it gave cafes salt cellars with five holes instead of 17. The move was welcomed by health campaigners and celebrity chef Paul Heathcote, who said it would nudge people in the right direction.

But others, including Stockport's Conservative group leader, Les Jones, said it created a 'nanny town'.

Cllr Jones said the council's latest move could actually be counterproductive.

He said: 'British people don't like being ordered around. If you actually want people to use more salt, then tell them not to. It's a foolish thing to do.'

Stockport is not the only council to clamp down on fast-food junkies.

Last month Oldham council said it was considering introducing a £1,000 'fat tax' to cut obesity.

New takeaways would pay the controversial levy as part of their planning permission.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... z1I7hEtetC

[Sean]

So they are going to try to persuade Mancs to eat a chip barm without salt and vinegar...

Good luck with that!


Mmmmmmm... chip barm...