Greg Hrinya, Associate Editor09.17.15
In an attempt to raise awareness about the amount of salt in chain restaurants like McDonalds and Subway, New York City is requiring fast food labels to contain a salt shaker symbol. The city’s Board of Health unanimously voted to label items with more than 2,300mg of sodium.
According to the Associated Press, New York City becomes the first American city requiring the labels. The move comes amidst growing talk regarding proposed changes to nutritional labels. The report states that the average American consumes 3,400mg of sodium each day, as opposed to the recommended one teaspoon. Studies have shown that the majority of dietary salt comes from processed and restaurant food, with a Subway foot-long spicy Italian sub surpassing the daily requirement by its lonesome with 2,980mg.
According to Michael Jacobson, executive director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, proper food labeling can do more to ensure a healthy public. “There are few other areas in which public health could do more to save lives,” he says.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently looking at improvements to food labels. Among the proposed changes are font sizes, added sugars and more self-explanatory serving suggestions. In addition, the FDA is said to be looking at how it labels sodium.
The proposed change is scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2015. The last major change to nutritional labels came in 2006 when trans fat information gained inclusion.
Food labels represent a major opportunity for label converters. As more companies look to draw attention on the shelf, there is no more hotly-debated market than that of nutrition and food labeling. New York City officials described proposed changes as saying “know” and not “no.” With consumers seeking more information about the food that they’re consuming, new labels–be it pressure sensitive, in-mold or shrink sleeve–have the ability to convey information, as well as eye-catching graphics.
According to the Associated Press, New York City becomes the first American city requiring the labels. The move comes amidst growing talk regarding proposed changes to nutritional labels. The report states that the average American consumes 3,400mg of sodium each day, as opposed to the recommended one teaspoon. Studies have shown that the majority of dietary salt comes from processed and restaurant food, with a Subway foot-long spicy Italian sub surpassing the daily requirement by its lonesome with 2,980mg.
According to Michael Jacobson, executive director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, proper food labeling can do more to ensure a healthy public. “There are few other areas in which public health could do more to save lives,” he says.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently looking at improvements to food labels. Among the proposed changes are font sizes, added sugars and more self-explanatory serving suggestions. In addition, the FDA is said to be looking at how it labels sodium.
The proposed change is scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2015. The last major change to nutritional labels came in 2006 when trans fat information gained inclusion.
Food labels represent a major opportunity for label converters. As more companies look to draw attention on the shelf, there is no more hotly-debated market than that of nutrition and food labeling. New York City officials described proposed changes as saying “know” and not “no.” With consumers seeking more information about the food that they’re consuming, new labels–be it pressure sensitive, in-mold or shrink sleeve–have the ability to convey information, as well as eye-catching graphics.