New York City could become the first city in America that requires a chain restaurants to display warning labels that indicate if a particular item on the menu has high sodium content.
The New York Times is reporting that the administration of New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio is set to propose the plan on Wednesday. If De Blasio's new sodium bill is approved, chain restaurants would have to post a warning label in the form of a small salt shaker on the menu next to any dish that contains more than 2,300 milligrams of salt, the daily limit suggested by most nutritionists.
The Times is also reporting that restaurants are not too happy with De Blasio's proposed plan. "Restaurants in New York City are already heavily regulated at every level," said Melissa Fleischut, president of the New York State Restaurant Association. Pointing to various federal and local rules, she added, "The composition of menus may soon have more warning labels than food products."
Speaking with USA Today, New York City Health Commissioner Mary Bassett says the law was designed to help fight against cardiovascular disease and give customers more information so they can make better health choices. "We have the overall goal at the health department that we want to reduce premature mortality."
Some of the risks of a high sodium diet include high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke. Statistics show that the average American consumes 3,400 milligrams of salt each day. Which means only 1-in-10 meet the recommended 2,300 milligram limit.
New York City has long been a pioneer in the public health sphere. Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's tenure the city was able to ban Trans fats from restaurant menus. As well getting chain restaurants to post calorie counts on menus. De Blasio's sodium bill is his first big step to continuing that legacy. If accepted the law may come in to effect as soon as December 2015.
