New York City may become the first in the U.S. to require warning labels about high sodium content on menus in chain restaurants.
The city’s Health Department will propose Wednesday that eateries add a salt shaker symbol to menu items that contain more than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium, equal to about one teaspoon of salt, the Associated Press reports.
Studies show that people who eat more sodium are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, which in turn contributes to heart disease, kidney problems and the possibility of a stroke. But doctors say some people are more sensitive to salt than others, so it’s difficult to pinpoint a strict limit to sodium consumption.
The average American consumes around 3,300 mg of sodium per day, 1,000 mg over the recommended daily intake. About three-fourths of that sodium intake comes from prepared or processed restaurant foods. Only about one in 10 Americans meet the one teaspoon of salt per day guideline.
Read Next: FDA Wants to Limit Your Salt Intake. Is That a Good Thing?
[AP]
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Introducing the 2024 TIME100 Next
- Sabrina Carpenter Has Waited Her Whole Life for This
- What Lies Ahead for the Middle East
- Why It's So Hard to Quit Vaping
- Jeremy Strong on Taking a Risk With a New Film About Trump
- Our Guide to Voting in the 2024 Election
- The 10 Races That Will Determine Control of the Senate
- Column: How My Shame Became My Strength
Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com