Boston Market Cuts The Salt—Shakers

It won't be so easy to pass the salt at since there are no longer salt shakers on the tables.

Company-wide the chain has removed the shakers from all of its 476 Boston Market locations. if you want salt on your green beans, it s now located at the central beverage station. 

Why? The chain says it it committed to helping reduce sodium levels in signature items by 20 percent and reducing sodium in the company’s menu items by 15 percent by the end of 2014.

Locals Say Good Idea

Sandra Jeppson, who was dining with her kids at the local restaurant at 27100 Alicia Pkwy., said she thought removing the salt shakers from tables was a good idea.

"If it's not immediately there, then it makes it less accessible," she said. "I have high blood pressure, so I need to keep my salt intake down. If I have to literally get up to get it, I probably won't."

Another diner, Matt Sharp, was also impressed by the company's decision to remove the salt from its tables.

"I love salt, but I try to stay away from it as much as possible," he said. "Putting it out of reach can help. Out of sight, out of mind, right?"

Creative Ways to Cut

In the kitchen, Boston Market will work with research and quality assurance teams to find ways to reduce sodium in the restaurant’s signature rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese by 20 percent over the next six months, without sacrificing flavor. On average, Boston Market sells 48 million servings of its signature rotisserie chicken, 24 million servings of its mashed potatoes, and 21.6 million servings of its macaroni and cheese each year, according to Boston Market.

The effort to address sodium at Boston Market is the latest step in a series of menu modifications that began nearly two years ago. In October 2010, the company began a roll-out of several enhancements, including reducing sodium in Boston Market’s signature rotisserie chicken by 20 percent and dropping sodium in the restaurant’s poultry gravy by 50 percent. Since 2011, the chain has also offered guests lighter options on a menu of Meals Under 550 Calories, which offers more than 100 combinations of protein-packed entrees and fresh vegetables, it said in a statement. 

Next year, Boston Market will explore additional sodium reductions and other nutritional improvements to soups, sandwiches and salads.

What do you think, tell us in comments if Boston Market did the right thing by removing salt shakers from its tables.