DALLAS, June 21, 2018 — American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following statement on Philadelphia’s Sodium Safety Warning Labeling for Chain Restaurants, passed today by the Philadelphia City Council:
Dining out and eating healthy is easier when cities and restaurants give consumers the information they need to eat smart. Today, Philadelphia’s City Council decision will ensure restaurants identify menu items exceeding 2,300 mg of sodium with a sodium warning label, allowing customers to make informed decisions about their food. Philadelphia is the second U.S. city to pass this type of legislation, following New York City Board of Health’s historic vote in 2015.
The science is clear that eating too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and other serious public health issues impacting our communities. Most Americans eat unsafe levels of sodium without realizing it. More than 70 percent of the sodium consumed is added to food before it reaches our plates in restaurants, processed and prepackaged foods.
We look forward to seeing the impact and results of the different approaches to sodium warning labels in Philadelphia and New York City as both cities drive sodium reduction in the long-term. Philadelphia’s effort to identify the saltiest menu items will help people make more informed food choices while eating out. Consumers deserve nutrition transparency and a warning label is a positive step in helping inform the public about the risk of excessive sodium consumption.
Additional Resources:
- Nancy Brown’s photo is available on the right column of the statement link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/philadelphia-city-council-passes-sodium-warning-label-for-restaurants?preview=0c822235328f5537dba1f9db40ed601b
- Related content: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/american-heart-association-ceo-nancy-brown-commends-philadelphias-sodium-safety-warning-label-proposal-6669071
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
Jayme Sandberg: 214-706-2169; jayme.sandberg@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
