New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed the Sweet Truth Act, which requires warning labels for menu items in chain restaurants that contain more than a day's worth of added sugars.
The law expands on a 2021 sugar warning policy passed by the city council in 2021. That policy, however, “covered only limited items sold in restaurants and had not yet been implemented due to the pandemic,” the Center for Science in the Public Interest said in a news release.
The latest law specifically targets excessive added sugars in fast food and fast-casual meals, which often surpass the FDA's daily recommendation of 50 grams.
Fast food staples, including seemingly modest fountain sodas, frequently contain more than a day's worth of added sugars, posing health risks linked to weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The city's health department will develop the warnings by June 2024, with labeling expected to appear in 2025.
“New Yorkers deserve to know what they’re eating at chain restaurants,” CSPI senior policy associate DeAnna Nara said. “New Yorkers soon will be able to see at a glance that their fountain soda or combo meal has more than a whole day’s worth of added sugars.”
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here.
The legislation also mandates factual warnings at registers, menu boards, and near dispensers of high-sugar items. Identifying menu items high in added sugars poses a challenge, as the FDA has yet to require this information for restaurant foods. City officials may estimate added sugars for some items, but complexities arise, especially for recipes incorporating natural sweeteners.
The Sweet Truth Act aligns with broader efforts by CSPI and the city, including a joint petition to the FDA for voluntary added sugars reduction targets. The National Sodium and Sugar Reduction Initiative in New York City has already set targets, potentially preventing cardiovascular disease events and saving billions in costs if achieved.
Despite a recent FDA meeting on sugar reduction, no action has been taken on the joint petition.
For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.
