Fish and chips shops up and down the country have are switching to salt shakers that have far fewer holes in a bid to help prevent heart disease.

Shops taking part in the scheme, which will see older varieties – which can have up to seventeen holes – be replaced by newer five-hole models, will also be given a batch of low sodium salt and pack of posters as part of the NHS funded initiative.

Restaurants in Cheshire, Tyneside and Norfolk will be amongst the first to receive their wares.

If successful, officials hope that it will eventually be rolled out nationwide.

“Most people don’t mind,” said Pete Taylor, who runs and fish and chip shop in Northwich. “[Customers] are happy to eat less salt, which is good, and people are more aware of health issues these days.”

The brains behind the project aren’t expecting to ‘change the world’, but those associated with the scheme are hoping to see some positive steps being taken that will see the nation’s health improve as a result of the slight modifications. After all, we only need a small amount of salt to reach out recommended daily allowance (RDA) and many people do liberally add salt pre and post cooking.

Consistently consuming high levels of salt can raise blood pressure which in turn increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

According to figures put forward by the pressure group Consensus Action on Salt and Heath, each serving of fish and chips can contain around 1.2g of salt, before customer’s reach for the salt shaker.

Their nutritionist, Sonia Pombo, has said that “small reductions go a long way to reducing our blood pressure so it is important we all make an effort to reduce our salt intake where possible. This just shows how simple it can be to lower your salt while still enjoying fish and chips.”

The current RDA for salt consumption is, according to the NHS, 6g for adults and far less for children – though the World Health Organization installed a 5g target a number of years ago.

“Initiatives like this are a good example of how simple changes can help the nation reduce their salt intake,” added the British Heart Foundation’s chief dietician, Tracy Parker.