A reasoned argument over seasoned debate? Salt level ‘warning’ takes effect

New York City begins a new era in nutritional warnings this week, when chain restaurants will have to start putting a special symbol on highly salty dishes. The first-of-its-kind rule takes effect on Tuesday and requires a salt-shaker emblem on some sandwiches, salads and other menu items that top the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams — about a teaspoon — of sodium. It’s the latest in a series of novel nutritional moves by the nation’s biggest city, and it comes as health advocates, federal regulators and some in the food industry are trying to get Americans to cut down on salt.

With the high sodium warning label, New Yorkers will have easily accessible information that can affect their health.

city Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett

The figures come from the companies’ published nutritional information. But salt producers say the city is acting on misimpressions about the risks of salt in New Yorkers’ diets. An international study involving 100,000 people suggested last year that most people’s salt intake was OK for heart health, though other scientists faulted the study. Restaurateurs say that healthy-eating initiatives shouldn’t single out any one ingredient and that the city shouldn’t create its own salt-warning scheme when federal regulators are working on new, national sodium guidelines.

Every one of these cumbersome new laws makes it tougher and tougher for restaurants to find success.

New York State Restaurant Association President Melissa Fleischut

Health New York salt