A practical, primary care based intervention programme which aimed to tower serum cholesterol in a large percentage of hypercholesterolaemic subjects in general practice is described. Intervention consisted of a 8–10 minute interview supplying oral and written diet counselling. The programme was tried in a kibbutz (agricultural settlement) with 93 adult members: 89 had their serum cholesterol determined, 35 of whom (39%) were hypercholesterolaemic—19 had borderline high cholesterol (5.2–6.2 mmol/l), 16 had definitely high cholesterol (602 mmol/l). Repeat blood samples were taken from 33 of the 35 hypercholesterolaemic patients 6–9 months after exposure to the intervention programme. The initial cholesterol level of the hypercholesterolaemic group was 6.31 ± 0.2 mmol/l (mean ± SE): at follow up it was 5.3 ± 0.2 mmol/l (P < 0.001), a decrease in serum cholesterol (mean 22.2 ± 2.1%) being seen in 28 of 33 patients (84%). In 19 patients (58%) cholesterol dropped to normal values, and in six additional cases (18%) it fell to borderline values. These data suggest that high cholesterol levels in otherwise normal adults may be reduced with little effort by the primary care physician and nurse.