We need to get better at seasoning, lads.

Over half of Irish people have a salt shaker positioned smack bang in the middle of their dining table, new research has shown. 51% of Irish people admit to the shaker being a dining table staple, compared to just 25% of people in Switzerland, and just 16% in Belgium. It may be tasty, but as we are all more than well aware, in high quantities it's not good for us. Increased salt intake can lead to many health issues such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can in turn lead to heart failure and other heart related issues down the line. What's more is that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most people consume an average of between 9–12 grams salt per day, roughly twice the recommended maximum level of intake. So, why are we eating so much of it? According to a study conducted on behalf of Knorr, almost two thirds (61%) of those surveyed said that the main reason the saltshaker takes centre stage at the dinner table is because their food needs a little something extra before they eat it.  Even more surprisingly is that one in three Irish people add salt to their dinner before they even taste it. Scenes. The solution here undoubtedly is to encourage us Irish to have more confidence in our cooking habits and our ability to create tasty flavours that don't involve a load of the white stuff. Or, you know, buy some spices that aren't just mild curry powder. Knorr commissioned this survey ahead of the release of their new stock cube range. Including three flavours with zero added salt, the new cubes are made from vegetables and herbs and spices including rosemary, nutmeg, lovage and turmeric - loads of flavour, none of the unnecessary added salt. “Knorr is on a mission to Reinvent Food for Humanity by helping people to transition to healthier diets that are both good for them and good for the land. The new range is made from high quality, sustainably sourced ingredients that reflect Knorr’s brand purpose” said Knorr Brand Manager, Aoife McCarthy. “Our new Zero Salt Stock cubes are crafted with a unique blend of herbs, spices and sustainably farmed vegetables giving consumers the power to decide how much salt they wish to add.”   You can check out the new stock cubes in Tesco and Dunnes Stores now.