Table salt banned in Greater Kumasi restaurants, eateries, chop bars

Public restaurants, chop bars and other eateries in Kumasi have been directed to stop serving table salt to customers with immediate effect under a new public health measure announced by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

Authorities say the ban is part of a broader effort to reduce excessive salt consumption and tackle the growing burden of hypertension in the metropolis.

Announcing the move, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi said too much salt remains a major contributor to high blood pressure and related complications.

He noted that although the body requires only a limited amount of salt each day, many people consume far more than is considered healthy.

The Assembly said the decision was informed by a recent survey involving 156 food vendors in Kumasi, which found that roughly 62% of eateries routinely place table salt before customers.

Officials believe that practice encourages additional salt intake beyond recommended limits.

The mayor said the directive forms part of wider interventions aimed at changing food habits and improving health outcomes in the city.

He added that the Assembly would intensify education and engagement with food vendors to encourage healthier cooking and serving practices.

Businesses that ignore the directive, he warned, could face enforcement action under the Assembly’s public health regulations.