New NYC Law Requires Warning Labels for Sugary Foods and Drinks at Chain Restaurants

NEW YORK – New York City residents and visitors may see warning labels next to sugary foods and drinks at chain restaurants and coffee shops, under a law expected to take effect later this year. .

This law would require food establishments with at least fifteen addresses to display a warning logo – a black and white spoon full of sugar – next to menu items that contain at least 50 grams of added sugar.

Companies should also display the following written label alongside the logo: “Warning: Indicates that the amount of added sugar in this product exceeds the recommended daily limit of added sugar ‘recommendation for a 2000 calorie (50 g) diet. Excessive consumption of added sugars can contribute to type 2 diabetes and weight gain.

The megacity’s health service released the proposed regulation last week and scheduled a public hearing for the end of May. City officials and Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, approved the law last year. The rule is expected to take effect on June 19 for prepackaged food products and December 1 for other products.

When asked about the policy in an interview with 1010 WINS radio on Thursday, Adams said, “It is our responsibility and obligation as a city not only to respond to the health care crisis, but also to for- active to prevent certain health problems. . Sugar is one of the main causes of health problems and disease. “

“I say in my personal health journey that food is medicine,” said Mr. Adams, a healthy eater who calls himself vegan but admits to occasionally eating fish.

The new regulation is not the New York mayor’s first foray into public health policy.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg banned artificial fats from restaurant chains and required chains to display calorie counts on menus. It also banned smoking inside restaurants and bars.

Bill de Blasio, the mayor who preceded Mr. Adams, passed a rule aimed at telling consumers that foods were high in sodium.

Critics of these rules have long argued that officials are turning the city into a “nanny state.”