IF YOU want to encourage people to use less salt on their chips, what do you do?

Perhaps you could make low sodium salt available, or encourage them to ask for just vinegar on their chips.

Caerphilly county currently has the highest mortality rate in Wales where the cause of death was coronary heart disease.

So the local council has come up with a plan to reduce salt levels, which can be a contributing factor to heart disease.

It has spent more than £3,200 of taxpayers' money on a scheme to reduce the number of holes in salt shakers in more than 200 takeaways across their area.

Caerphilly council has distributed new five-hole salt shakers to takeaways, replacing 17-hole ones, and 387 shakers have been delivered to more than 200 takeaways, including 101 in Gwent.

The cost for 500 new shakers was £1,000, combined with posters displayed in takeaways regarding the new shakers and testing, the total cost was around £3,260.

Half the funding was obtained through the Health Promotion Team, with trading standards footing the other half.

But Ynysddu councillor Jan Jones is among those who were left scratching their heads at the move.

She said: "It's like a nanny state gone mad. I'm all for people using less salt, but let's face it, if people want more salt, they will just shake longer."

Crosskeys councillor Michael Gray also felt the idea went against common sense. He added: "I certainly don't think it was worthwhile, the money should be spent in other ways."

Churchill's Fish Bar, Commercial Street, Pontymister, was one of 11 premises where the scheme was trialled in March.

Trading standards officers, posing as members of public, ordered a portion of chips with salt, which was then analysed.

Officers offered the five-hole shakers to proprietors, and returned again three weeks later. The salt level was then measured with the new shaker.

Officers also ran a test in the laboratory; timing how long salt was poured for in a takeaway.

This was replicated in the lab using both shakers, weighing the amount of salt used and getting an average per portion.

On average, they said, the new design poured 60 percent less salt.

Owner of Churchill's, Phil Churchill, 45, said: "Overall, people just haven't noticed the change. I suppose it is money well spent, it's making people more aware and I think it's a good idea."

The recommended intake of salt is 6g a day and Caerphilly council estimates that more than 770,000 portions of chips are sold across the borough each year.

It is hoped the new shakers will reduce salt consumption by 770kg annually.

Cabinet member for the environment, Lyn Ackerman, defended the idea, saying: "The introduction of a simple innovative device could play a significant role in reducing salt intake."

  • Takeaways in Caerphilly borough can get the shakers by calling trading standards on 01495 235454.

We asked people in Caerphilly what they think: Bryan Wilson, 59, Old Pant Road, Newbridge: "I don't think it will make a difference because if people are putting on their own they will just give it an extra shake. In a way, it could go on something better, once you've developed your taste it's hard to give up."

Nigel Daunter, 42, Ravenswood Court, Risca: "It's ridiculous, it's not actually solving anything. It's bureacy gone mad, they should be spending money on common sense ideas."

Steve Coleman, 51, Newport Road, Pontllanfraith: "Spending that kind of money is absolutely pointless, people are either going to use it a lot or they're not, but to put that money into that resource is a waste of time when it could be used elsewhere."

Brian Prosser, 57, Beech Grove, Oakdale: "It's totally a waste of money, if they had a vote on it, I think people would say no to it. I think it would be better spent on something for youngsters in the area."

Sally Walters, 44, Ty Sign, Risca: "I think it's fantastic - it's good for people's health and they haven't even noticed. It's definitely money well spent, especially with kids coming in."

Sara Stokes, 31, Ebenezer Drive, Rogerstone, who was a customer at the Pontymister chip shop, said: "I think it's a good idea, but I believe it's personal choice as to whether they have it or not. I think it should be spent in better areas."

Fellow Pontymister chip shop customer Mark Prosser, 41, Fuschia Way, Rogerstone added: "I didn't realise they'd reduced the number of holes, I think it's good because some people don't control their salt intake. If it reduces the strain on the NHS bill then I think it's worth it."