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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NYC proposal would alert diners to sodium

Associated Press

NEW YORK – New York could become the first U.S. city. to require warning labels on high-salt dishes at chain restaurants, taking campaigns to cut down on salt into new territory.

The city’s Department of Health will propose today that all chain restaurants add a salt-shaker-like symbol on menus next to products that contain more than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium, about 1 teaspoon of salt.

Public health advocates hailed the proposal as a pioneering step to tackle a major problem. Salt producers called it off-base, and some restaurateurs said it would needlessly mire already burdened eateries in more bureaucracy. But city Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Travis Bassett said it simply would give customers important information.

If the city Board of Health votes today to consider the proposal, a final vote could come as soon as September and the warnings by December.