In an attempt to get New Yorkers to watch their sodium intake, tiny salt shaker symbols will now appear on New York City restaurant and concession stand menus next to meals that are high in sodium, according to Reuters.
New York City is the first city in the country to pass such a measure.
The salt warning — which was unanimously approved by the New York City Board of Health — applies to items containing more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium at restaurants with at least 15 U.S. establishments, as well as some movie theater and sports stadium concession stands.
Part of the reason the New York City Board of Health approved the salt warning is because of the connection between sodium intake and high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in New York City, according to the report.
"Things are not going to work out great if all you do is just not eat salt," Howard Weintraub, MD, co-director of NYU Langone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, told Reuters. "But maybe, just maybe, they'll start to watch how much they eat, maybe they will get off the subway a stop earlier and walk, instead of taking the elevator, they will walk two flights, there will be some weight loss."
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