7/23/2019 Salt is New York Citys New Public

1/2

Salt is New York Citys new public-health enemy

Published: Dec 2, 2!" #:$$ a%m% &'

(#

Shutterstock%com ) *illionPhotos%com

*y+./+0N&P1'&Startin on Dec% !, diners in New York City are seein a new symbol onmenus%

.t becomes the 3rst city in the 4%S% to re5uire chain restaurants to post the

symbol 6 a salt shaker inside a black trianle 6 ne7t to indi8idual menuitems that contain more than the total daily recommended limit o9 sodium,which is 2,$ millirams, or about one teaspoon%

'he new labelin applies to restaurants with !" or more locations nationwideand was passed unanimously by the New York City *oard o9 ealth on Sept%#% bout !; o9 menu items in these restaurants will re5uire the salt-shakerlabelin, accordin to the New York City Department o9 ealth and +entalyiene% estaurants that dont comply with the new policy will start to bepenaliim 1ara, the director o9 health-promotion policy at the Center 9or Sciencein the Public .nterest, a ?ashinton-based nonpro3t and consumer ad8ocacyroup, said he is hope9ul the labelin will lead to a reduced-sodium diet 9orthose purchasin 9ood in New York% @?ere encourain health departments9rom *oston to San Arancisco and e8erywhere in between to 9ollow New YorkCitys lead,B he said%

New York has pioneered health initiati8es in the past, includin 9ormer +ayor+ichael *loombers attempt to ban the sale o9 suary drinks in cups or

containers larer than != ounces an initiati8e that the New York StateSupreme Court declared in8alid in 2!$%

New York, under *loomber in 22, implemented a ban on smokin in barsand restaurantsE Cali9ornia had already eliminated smokin in barsstatewide% .n 2=, the citys *oard o9 ealth banned the use o9 arti3cialtrans9ats and re5uired calorie counts to be posted at chain restaurants,makin New York the 3rst city to institute such a re5uirement%

7/23/2019 Salt is New York Citys New Public

2/2

Aull disclosure: 'he author o9 this article is a 9ormer employee o9 *loomber/P%

.n >uly, when the labelin rules were still a proposal, some restaurant roupscritici