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| New York City mayor tackles salt while San Francisco declares war on sugar | New York City mayor tackles salt while San Francisco declares war on sugar |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| New York could become the first US city to label high-sodium menu items in chain restaurants after new health regulations were proposed this week. | |
| The New York City health department proposed that restaurants with 15 or more locations use small salt shaker notations to mark any meal with more than 2,300mg of sodium – about one teaspoon of salt – are considered to be high-sodium items. | The New York City health department proposed that restaurants with 15 or more locations use small salt shaker notations to mark any meal with more than 2,300mg of sodium – about one teaspoon of salt – are considered to be high-sodium items. |
| The recommended intake of dietary sodium is 2,300mg a day, yet just one in 10 Americans abide by this guideline, according to the Associated Press. Instead, average sodium consumption is about 3,400mg of sodium a day. | The recommended intake of dietary sodium is 2,300mg a day, yet just one in 10 Americans abide by this guideline, according to the Associated Press. Instead, average sodium consumption is about 3,400mg of sodium a day. |
| “This is another example of the government creating policy based on outdated, incorrect sodium guidelines that have been refuted by ten years of research,” said Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, a trade association for salt producers. | “This is another example of the government creating policy based on outdated, incorrect sodium guidelines that have been refuted by ten years of research,” said Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, a trade association for salt producers. |
| “Research shows Americans already eat within the safe range of sodium consumption and population-wide sodium reduction strategies are unnecessary and could be harmful.” | “Research shows Americans already eat within the safe range of sodium consumption and population-wide sodium reduction strategies are unnecessary and could be harmful.” |
| Just as with calorie counts, being able to identify high-sodium items would help consumers make healthier choices, New York City officials argue. They expect these type of warnings would be added to about 10% of menu items. | Just as with calorie counts, being able to identify high-sodium items would help consumers make healthier choices, New York City officials argue. They expect these type of warnings would be added to about 10% of menu items. |
| “This doesn’t change the food. It enables people to identify single items that have a level of salt that is extremely high so that they can modify their menu selections accordingly,” Dr Mary Travis, commissioner of the New York City department of health and mental hygiene, told the AP. | “This doesn’t change the food. It enables people to identify single items that have a level of salt that is extremely high so that they can modify their menu selections accordingly,” Dr Mary Travis, commissioner of the New York City department of health and mental hygiene, told the AP. |
| If all goes according to plan, the saltshakers could appear on menus as early as December. | If all goes according to plan, the saltshakers could appear on menus as early as December. |
| To some New Yorkers, the plan is a reminder of the city’s failed attempt to ban their extra large soda drinks. | To some New Yorkers, the plan is a reminder of the city’s failed attempt to ban their extra large soda drinks. |
| Could the salt-shaker notations go the way of Big Gulp ban? Letitia James, the New York City public advocate, thinks so. | Could the salt-shaker notations go the way of Big Gulp ban? Letitia James, the New York City public advocate, thinks so. |
| On Tuesday, James criticized New York’s mayor, Bill de Blasio for going directly to the board of health with his proposal instead of attempting to pass the proposal through the city council. This is the same approach that the previous mayor, Michael Bloomberg, took with his plan to ban soda drinks larger than 16 ounces. | |
| Related: Why the New York soda ban was doomed anyway: an illustrated guide | Related: Why the New York soda ban was doomed anyway: an illustrated guide |
| “We have seen this happen before with the failed soda ban,” James told the New York Times. “The intention to improve the health of New Yorkers is good, but the process is wrong. There is no reason not to send this through the elected city council.” | |
| The main opponents of the new proposals are restaurant owners who say that they are already over-regulated. | The main opponents of the new proposals are restaurant owners who say that they are already over-regulated. |
| Under Bloomberg, the city banned smoking in restaurants and trans fats, required that chain restaurants post calorie counts on their menus and implemented a health inspection grading system for food and drink establishments. In 2008, Bloomberg also announced the National Salt Reduction Initiative campaign, with a goal to cut the quantities of sodium in packaged and restaurant foods by a quarter over five years. By 2013, Bloomberg said that 21 companies – including Kraft Foods and Subway – had reduced the amount of sodium in their foods. | Under Bloomberg, the city banned smoking in restaurants and trans fats, required that chain restaurants post calorie counts on their menus and implemented a health inspection grading system for food and drink establishments. In 2008, Bloomberg also announced the National Salt Reduction Initiative campaign, with a goal to cut the quantities of sodium in packaged and restaurant foods by a quarter over five years. By 2013, Bloomberg said that 21 companies – including Kraft Foods and Subway – had reduced the amount of sodium in their foods. |
| The De Blasio administration is taking it a step too far, however, according to those in the restaurant industry. High-sodium warnings might be fine for packaged food, but not for restaurants. | The De Blasio administration is taking it a step too far, however, according to those in the restaurant industry. High-sodium warnings might be fine for packaged food, but not for restaurants. |
| “Federal law already mandates that restaurants provide sodium level information to consumers upon request and this proposal would only add to the mountain of red tape these establishments have to deal with,” Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the NYS Restaurant Association, said in a statement. | “Federal law already mandates that restaurants provide sodium level information to consumers upon request and this proposal would only add to the mountain of red tape these establishments have to deal with,” Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the NYS Restaurant Association, said in a statement. |
| “With separate labelling laws currently in the legislative houses and on the books at the state, federal and local levels, the composition of menus may soon have more warning labels than food products.” | “With separate labelling laws currently in the legislative houses and on the books at the state, federal and local levels, the composition of menus may soon have more warning labels than food products.” |
| Meanwhile, San Francisco is tackling soda and other sugary drinks. | Meanwhile, San Francisco is tackling soda and other sugary drinks. |
| The San Francisco board of supervisors voted unanimously to approve health warnings on ads for soda and sugary drinks on Tuesday. | The San Francisco board of supervisors voted unanimously to approve health warnings on ads for soda and sugary drinks on Tuesday. |
| Under the proposed ordinance, sugary drinks are defined as drinks with more than 25 calories from sweeteners per 12 ounces – which would exclude no-calorie drinks like Coca-Cola Zero. In addition to soda, other products such as sports and energy drinks, flavored waters and iced teas that exceed the 25-calorie limit would have to include the warning, which would read: “WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. This is a message from the City and County of San Francisco.” | Under the proposed ordinance, sugary drinks are defined as drinks with more than 25 calories from sweeteners per 12 ounces – which would exclude no-calorie drinks like Coca-Cola Zero. In addition to soda, other products such as sports and energy drinks, flavored waters and iced teas that exceed the 25-calorie limit would have to include the warning, which would read: “WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. This is a message from the City and County of San Francisco.” |
| The warnings would have to appear on print advertising within city limits on things like billboards and vehicles, but not in papers and circulars. Soda cans and bottles would not have to carry the warning. | The warnings would have to appear on print advertising within city limits on things like billboards and vehicles, but not in papers and circulars. Soda cans and bottles would not have to carry the warning. |
| The board also passed proposals to ban soda ads on city-owned property and would prohibit city funds from being used to buy soda. | The board also passed proposals to ban soda ads on city-owned property and would prohibit city funds from being used to buy soda. |
| “These are not harmless products that taste good,” said supervisor Scott Wiener, who authored the soda warning proposal. “These are products that are making people sick, and we need to take action.” | |
| If the proposal passes a second vote next week and is approved by the mayor, San Francisco could become the first place in the US to require such warnings. | If the proposal passes a second vote next week and is approved by the mayor, San Francisco could become the first place in the US to require such warnings. |
| The Associated Press contributed to this report. | The Associated Press contributed to this report. |