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by Lib Dem team on 31 March, 2011
That’s the slightly bizarre claim being made in the Daily Express and Daily Mail today.
Residents of Stockport need only pop into their local chippy to confirm that the story isn’t true, but where’s it come from? Here’s the slightly less exciting truth behind the fiction:
ASK CAMPAIGN – ENCOURAGING A REDUCED SALT USE
Dr Peter Elton, Lead Greater Manchester Director of Public Health for cardiovascular disease, said:
“The purpose of the Greater Manchester ASK campaign is not to deprive customers of their desired salt intake but to encourage people to taste their food first rather than adding salt to food out of habit, especially as chefs already season food.
“Eating too much salt can increase blood pressure. People with an increased blood pressure are three times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. In Greater Manchester more than 6,000 people are affected by strokes each year and approximately 5,000 people die of coronary heart disease.
“ASK is a voluntary scheme where food establishments have the option of placing salt shakers behind counters and replacing them with ASK tent cards which are in full view to clients. This way if clients want to add more salt all they need to do is ask, they are not being made to feel stigmatised.
“This is part of a Greater Manchester public health funded initiative which has been backed by all 10 local authorities as a way of trying to reduce heart conditions attributed to excessive salt use.
So salt isn’t being banned, no-one is being forced to hide the salt and it’s a Greater Manchester health initiative being supported by ten Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem councils.
There’s probably something the stories got right, if you look hard enough.
9 Comments
Hardly something new.
Go to many “smart” restaurants and you won’t find salt or pepper pots on the table – they reckon the chef has properly seasoned the plate. And they’re usually right.
And many chippies havnt had a salt shaker on the counter for ages – but they always ask if you want salt & vinegar, don’t they?
It’s yet another Express/Mail “political correctness gone mad” rant. Presumably they didnt have an immigration story to rant about today so had to fill their space with this nonsense.
Whatever the truth, this sounds like more nanny-state nonsense designed to ‘encourage’ the anti PC / NS brigade – you who support this move ‘cannot see the wood for the trees’ – you make a rod for your own backs !
Furthermore, this Doctor Elton – another public-sector busy-body – trying to justify his wages and powers – an obvious ‘cut’ to make !
I think the real annoyance over this salt business stems from everyone wondering just what business it is of the council whether or not people put salt on their food. It’s got nothing to do with you.
Dear fellow commentators: Nobody will take your opinion seriously if it begins with “Whatever the truth”.
J Chambers – whether you agree with this particular campaign or not, local authorities do have a public health responsibility. That’s not just Stockport, it’s every authority up and down the country .
To suggest that a local authority should get in involved in whether or not individuals put salt on their food in a nonsense, it’s just bog all to do with them.
Incidentally 80% of salt in the diet comes from ‘hidden salt’ used in the manufacture of the food. So this crackpot council isn’t even targeting the real problem anyway – no surprise there though
If you’re want to tackle an individual’s salt intake you should target that 80% of hidden dietary salt and ban supermarkets from selling ready meals, bread, cakes, soup, breakfast cereals, baked beans, proceesed meats etc.- just about all the processed food they sell. I don’t see Stockport Council tackling Sainsbury’s, Tesco and ASDA probably because they’d end up in court!
re: Lucas. One be not your ‘dear’ !
If people want to add extra salt to food it is noboby’s business but theirs. It’s as prepostrous and futile as a Pub hiding the Beer bottles so people aren’t tempted to buy more. This isn’t the kind of ‘social responsibility’ Gov should be meddling with.
The powers that be should concentrate on pot holes, social housing, care for the elderly,assistance for the disabled. burglary and violent crime reduction, cheaper public transport etc. Not this peripheral nonsense!!
I think we should just take all this fuss with a pinch of salt.