By Associated Press
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — who is known to shake salt on his pizza — is focusing on sodium as the next unhealthy enemy in his crusade to coax people into eating better.
Bloomberg’s health department has already banned trans fats in restaurant meals and forced chain eateries to post calorie counts on menus.
On Monday, the city set guidelines recommending maximum amounts of salt for a variety of restaurant and store-bought foods, with the goal of cutting salt levels in food by a quarter overall in 5 years.
“I use a lot of salt,” Bloomberg admitted Monday. Despite any personal eating habits he may have, the mayor is fixated on nutrition as a public health concern.
“We’re trying to extend the lives and improve the lives of people who live in this city,” he said.
Unlike the city’s trans fat ban and calorie count rule, the salt initiative is voluntary.
The recommendations posted on the city health department’s Web site call for substantial reductions in the salt content of many products, from a 20 percent drop in peanut butter to a 40 percent decline in canned vegetables.
The targets include a 40 percent reduction in breakfast cereals and flavored snack chips, and a 25 percent reduction for cold cuts, processed cheese and salsa.
Not even the mayor’s favorite foods — popcorn and hot dogs — were spared: The city wants food manufacturers to work on reducing salt by 30 percent in popcorn and 20 percent in wieners.
Health officials say Americans now eat about twice the amount of salt they should. Too much sodium contributes to high blood pressure, which can cause heart attack and stroke.
Seventeen national health organizations and 25 other city or state health agencies have endorsed New York City’s effort, called the National Salt Reduction Initiative.
Thank G-d. for that! I hope the spend a truck load of money on this (as of yet) voluntary program!
Voluntary to all but those who paid the taxes and tickets to fund this none sense.
How about painting the parking space near pumps? How about less pumps? How about crime, terrorism? Corrupt cops?
Oh no, salt, the “republican ” mayor will protect us from ourselves, great!
Why not have the city health dept focus on the real problems like the rodent problems in restaurants and packing facilities instead of silly things that people can choose for themselves. It is peoples right in this country to choose what we eat. Most people do not choose the pretzels and chips with “no salt added” even though it available because they prefer the items with added salt. Is the city going to impose penalties on kosher meat because it saltier than treif meat? Leave us alone and let us choose for ourselves.
When will this stop? I have heart disease, high blood pressure, and I am old enough to decide for myself how much salt and fat I eat. i wish Meddling Mike would leave me alone. Its not his business. I can choose for myself. And FYI I don’t use oil except a trace of olive oil, I don’t smoke or drink, and I try to limit my salt intake as much as possible. So get off my back, Mike, you wren’t elected yet again to tell us how to eat!! YOU stop eating chazarei before I cut out salt altogether!… Read more »