NYC Salt Warning To Stay; Violators To Pay Up To $600 Fine

New York City's salt warning will continue despite a lawsuit filed by a restaurant trade group to stop its implementation.  A judge in the country's most populous city has ruled on Wednesday that big restaurant chains and eateries will be fined of up to $600 if they failed to post salt warning signs on their menu items that are high in sodium.

According to Reuters, NYC's salt warning measure directs eateries and big restaurant chains with 15 or more branches to post a salt warning sign on their menus to signal customers that these foods have high sodium content. A salt shaker enclosed in a black triangle symbol must be seen next to the menus items with more than 2,300 sodium content.  Food experts such as nutritionists recommend limit intake of 2,300 sodium everyday. The rule was challenged by the National Restaurant Association, a self-acclaimed association that has regarded itself as the world's largest food service trade group. It has more than 500,000 restaurant businesses members.

The rule which is the first of its kind in the Unites States, and lawmakers agree that it would be beneficial to the New Yorkers.  "Some people love salty food and are just going to eat those salty foods regardless of whether there's a salt icon next to it," Supreme Court Justice Eileen Rakower said. "I believe information is power." She added that NYC's salt warning is far different from the soda-ban as the measure doesn't restrict the use of sodium.

NYC'S salt warning was adapted in December to help New Yorkers attain a healthy eating lifestyle. It was also initiated to help lower the rates of hypertension, heart attack, strokes and heart problems in the city.  The restaurant trade group immediately sued the Department of Health in November over the salt warning regulation, Yahoo reports.  The measure follows other healthy eating measures, including restricting soda size and requiring calorie counts on menu that were challenged in the courts.

"This is really good news for the health of New Yorkers," said Dr. Mary Bassett, the city's health commissioner.  Restaurants, eateries, and concession stands at movie theaters and sports stadiums are required to follow NYC's salt warning rule or else they have to pay penalty beginning March 1, NY Eater claims.

The NRA was not happy with the judge's ruling and claimed that they are going to make an appeal to change the court's decision. The group has maintained their claim that NYC's salt warning measure burdens the restaurant owners.  They added it will only make the consumers confused and ill-informed.

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New York City's salt warning, salt warning sign, National Restaurant Association, New York salt regulation, recommended limit intake for sodium, sodium

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