The Board of Health is slapping warnings on chain restaurant menus to persuade New Yorkers to pass on the salt.
The labels — the first use of the tactic by any city in the nation — will alert diners when dishes contain more than the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium. Experts say going over that daily limit increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
“This is a great day for New York, and a real step forward for public health,” said Health Commissioner Mary Bassett.
The new labels, which go into effect Dec. 1, feature an icon of a salt shaker in a triangle next to the salty meal.
Bassett said the labels are important because in many cases, people don’t even know their food is high in sodium.
She pointed to burger chain Red Robin’s “Monster Salted Caramel Shake,” which has a whopping 3,448 milligrams of salt.
The rule applies only to food service establishments with at least 15 or more locations nationwide, and includes restaurants, bars and theaters.
Matthew Greller, a lawyer for the National Association for Theater Owners, said the rule creates a bad precedent, and that any such requirement should come from lawmakers.
Greller — who was involved in the successful lawsuit against the Bloomberg administration to stop the big soda ban — said no decision has been made about legal action.
He said the board’s decision might motivate theaters to stop selling salt-studded soft pretzels, which might require the labels.
“I think they would rather pull it than change the menu,” he said.
The labels — the first use of the tactic by any city in the nation — will alert diners when dishes contain more than the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium. Experts say going over that daily limit increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
“This is a great day for New York, and a real step forward for public health,” said Health Commissioner Mary Bassett.
The new labels, which go into effect Dec. 1, feature an icon of a salt shaker in a triangle next to the salty meal.
Bassett said the labels are important because in many cases, people don’t even know their food is high in sodium.
She pointed to burger chain Red Robin’s “Monster Salted Caramel Shake,” which has a whopping 3,448 milligrams of salt.
The rule applies only to food service establishments with at least 15 or more locations nationwide, and includes restaurants, bars and theaters.
Matthew Greller, a lawyer for the National Association for Theater Owners, said the rule creates a bad precedent, and that any such requirement should come from lawmakers.
Greller — who was involved in the successful lawsuit against the Bloomberg administration to stop the big soda ban — said no decision has been made about legal action.
He said the board’s decision might motivate theaters to stop selling salt-studded soft pretzels, which might require the labels.
“I think they would rather pull it than change the menu,” he said.
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