In a study of 2241 Australian adults consuming main meals at a cafeteria, single-and multi-holed (5, 9, 13) salt shakers were weighed before and after use. For all hole numbers, salt use increased linearly with an increase in hole area to a maximum value of 1.1-1.2 g which was the same irrespective of hole number. For a given hole area multi-holed shakers decreased salt use compared with single-holed shakers suggesting that multi-holed shakers are easier for consumers to control. However the greatest restriction in salt use (0.37 g per meal) is obtained by use of a single-holed shaker of 3 mm2 hole area.