You can('t) take this with a pinch of salt?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/6xf9l36

So the 'nanny council' now takes over from the 'nanny state'.

It comes only after one council gave cafes salt cellars with five holes instead of 17.

/// 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. ///

The best quote though was from Stockport's Conservative group leader, Les Jones, who said "British people don't like being ordered around".

He could fool me.

[McMouse]

Encouraging lower salt intake is a good idea. This is a voluntary initiative and should commended.

[Zeuhl]

How big are the holes?

[andy-hughes]

Seems like a good idea to me - I don't see what is 'nanny' about the idea of encouraging people to avoid excess salt in their diet.

[jackthehat]

<<<He could fool me.>>>

My mum always said if I couldn't say anything nice.........I'd best keep quiet. :o/

[smart1]

It's "nanny" becasue adults are usually quite good at deciding for themseves on things.

[andy-hughes]

Actually smart1 - in some cases, they are not.

Given the opportunity, people will abuse their bodies at regular intervals - I should know, i do it myself - so if someone takes an initiative to introduce some thought into one of the processes, that is surely a good thing?

[pa___ul3]

I've only ever been into chippies where they ask you if you want it, never seen it in a help yourself way on the counter!

[AB Editor]

Yep, same here Paul. I always say no salt (which feel a bit like a lie, because I do want salt - but not theirs!) because they seem to lash an avalanche of the stuff on - also it is usually the fine stuff and good fish and chips deserve rock salt flakes.

[hc4361]

I miss those days when the salt and vinegar shakers were on the counter of the chippy, to help yourself to.
I miss those days when chips were deep fried in dripping, too. They were proper chips.

[andy-hughes]

Paul - you are showing your age there!

Those of us who are more 'ahem!' mature on the site remember that not only could you slosh salt and vinegar on your chips, but they tasted far better because they were wrapped in an outer covering of newspaper - another sad decline in civilisation was when that avenue of pleasure was closed off (copyright B. Fawlty).

[Mamyalynne]

Always vinegar first.

[jackthehat]

I could never pinch a chip from Mrs jth...........she used to like a few chips with her salt :o/

However, I have now managed to 'nanny' her into moderating her salt intake to suit *my* tastes...........:o)

[smart1]

OK Andy-H, fair point, but something more beneficial should be top of the 'nanny' agenda then, such as stopping alcohol advertising, before counting holes in salt cellars surely?

[Zeuhl]

I repeat!!!

How big are the holes?

It's really important. Shouldn't there be a maximum diameter?

[Old_Geezer]

Sometimes things can be counterproductive. If I don't think I'm getting enough salt out per shake, the cellar is opened, I pour some into the palm of my hand, and sprinkle it from there. But it being a pain to get right that way, I'm sure I end up with more salt that I otherwise would.

Fat tax to cut obesity, my foot. It's just another excuse to find someone who can't refuse, and mug them. I think there should be an interference levy on governments and councils and suchlike.

[MrJabezClegg]

The people in front of me last night in the chippy were shaking the salt like mad and said to the boss your shaker holes are blocked.
When informed that the health department had been in shop and given them the new shakers with less holes they shook their heads and started shaking for another 5 minutes to get there fix of salt.

What you got in 4 shakes now takes 16 shakes so if you are off out to the chippy shake a leg and get in early .

[boxtops]

We hardly ever take salt in our house, I don't understand people slathering it all over everything without tasting the food first. I do like salt with a fried egg, and when we have chips - but that's about once very two months.

[anotheoldgit]

jackthehat

Pity you didn't take notice of your Mum