I think some foods do need a bit of salt to bring out the best of their flavour, and there is nothing wrong with adding a little bit of salt.

The problem is that some people eat a diet of mainly processed foods and they are almost always laden with a tonne of salt. Some of these people then go on to add even more salt themselves when they've cooked the food.. I think that is when it causes health problems.

A small sprinkle of salt on your chips once in a while, or adding a bit of salt when boiling certain, more bland tasting vegetables for example isn't going to cause you much harm.

I usually season with salt and pepper when I'm cooking, but only a pinch here and there, not the great fistfuls you see chefs using. I really think salt brings out the flavour of most savoury food. I eat very little processed stuff though - mostly home-cooking with fresh ingredients.

Its all a matter of balance. Salt is a vital part of your diet, too little and you develop hyponatremia and too much? For years we are told too much salt causes heart disease but newer research is casting doubts on that much the same as we are now told butter is healthy. There was a food documentary a couple of years ago (can't remember the name) and in one part it showed there is more salt in some single main dish Chinese meals as in twelve packets of ready salted crisps!

I use salt in cooking but can afford to, I don't use a mass of it, don't eat processed food and the nearest I get to a ready meal is baked beans. Use common sense.

once again the government is trying to dictate to us what to eat.
heard that they are spending money on adverts.

Maybe they should look at some of the people in government before telling us how or what to eat.

They don't and can't dictate what we eat. That's up to us. They can, however, educate and advise.

Indeed, JulesF, and it's entirely right and proper that they do so because that'll mean a healthier population with a better life quality and fewer calls upon the the NHS thus saving taxpayers' money in the longer term.

Aardman animations works on new 'Change4Life 'campaign
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20914508

Do you honestly think that the campaign will make much difference? or are you just dreaming

I guarantee fast food outlets won't see a drop in sales nor will all the sales of the junk/processed food that fill the majority of our supermarket shelves drop in numbers!

In an ideal world, Yes we would all like to think the ad campaign will make a difference, but in reality it won't, if anything it will only make a short term change to some people before they revert to what they did before!

A major problem is fast food is just that, its fast. We live in an age of people wanting everything now and more tommorow so why bother cooking when you can just throw a ready meal in the microwave or pick up a burger/kebab/pies etc.

Its not up to the government to promote healthy eating, parents need to take responsibility, they are the adults, they all know the problems with junk food so THEY should take it upon themselves to change the way they feed themselves and their young ones, THEY should educate their children.

It won't make a lot of difference, no, but it might to some people.

There are plenty of people on this thread who have been educated one way or another who now have a low salt intake. There are hundreds of thousands of people who care what they eat and have been educated somehow, at some point.

Of course there are people who have no inclination to change but it is better to make an informed choice rather than to be ignorantly way over the limit.

yes there is

TV chefs are awful for "seasoning". it's not necessary at all

Why is butter salted? once you try unsalted butter, you will never go back.

Seasoning isn't necessary?

salt isn't necessary, a lot of the time, I don't think.

"seasoning" is a euphemism for salt, mainly


pepper etc is fine.

Salt makes virtually everything taste better, including many desserts. There is a reason that every single top chef in the world puts salt on everything.

I add salt to pretty much everything I cook. Oddly though I don't like it on my chips! But where I cook pasta or boiled potatoes, I literally pour the stuff in. Same with pork - that gets a good old smattering of salt too.

Everything in moderation I guess. To be fair some of the retailers have reduced salt content but let's face it if you are going to eat something like a pepperoni pizza it's loaded with salt by definition. I don't add any to veg or pasta as I don't think I need to. It is essential on chips though!! Another work around is to use spices in place of salt if possible but obviously cabbage with tabasco is not a good combo...

Lemon juice is also very good alternative to salt in many dishes.

[quote=gemma-the-husky;63435635
Why is butter salted? once you try unsalted butter, you will never go back.[/QUOTE]
I tried unsalted butter and it was disgusting, even in buttercream icing.

The more salt the better, nothing worse than tasteless food.

the only reason unsalted butter exists it's so it can be added yourself.

I don't like the taste of unsalted butter.

Exactly. It's for people who prefer to use their own seasoning. Many chefs insist on unsalted butter.

I never use to sprinkle salt on cooked foods. Until recently, I think manufactures have reduced salt this much people add even more salt than what the manufactures would added in the first place if this makes sense lol