Well, it didn't take long. The unique health regulation recently introduced by New York City has just met an objection from a group of restaurateurs.
As announced on Thursday, December 4, the National Restaurant Association is planning to file a lawsuit against New York City after its local council passed the sodium warning regulation.
With its implementation, restaurants that have at least 15 locations around the country and a number of concession stands operating in sports stadiums and movie theaters will be compelled to include a salt shaker symbol enclosed in a black triangle on all menu items whose sodium is over 2,300 milligrams, which is the recommended maximum limit. Failure to comply means $200 penalty, which is expected to take effect during the first quarter of next year.
The law, which is fully supported by NYC mayor Bill de Blasio, is intended to fight cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death, and stroke, which is the number one cause of long-term disability, in the city. According to the state's department of health, in 2007 alone, more than 59,000 people died of the disease. The health care cost of heart disease was about $32 billion in 2008.
Although sodium is an essential mineral in the body, health experts agree that too much of it is not good. It can increase blood pressure, which can make a person at a higher risk of both heart disease and hypertension. Further, sodium, along with saturated fat, is linked to the increasing obesity rate in the country.
The association claimed that with the new regulation, the council and the health board can only be promoting disclosure of misleading and controversial information related to sodium. This in turn can only cause "negative consequences" rather than help consumers' health.
In response to the lawsuit, City Spokesman Nick Paolucci said they would be reviewing the allegations once served but stressed the health board has the authority to implement the rule.
