New York City to Implement Warning Labels on Sugary Foods and Drinks
New York City residents may soon be seeing warning labels next to sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurants and coffee shops as a new law is set to go into effect later this year. The rule, approved by city officials and Mayor Eric Adams, requires food businesses with 15 storefronts or more to post a warning icon next to menu items containing at least 50 grams of added sugar.
The warning icon is a black and white spoon loaded with sugar, and businesses will also have to post a written label that states, “Warning: indicates that the added sugar content of this item is higher than the total daily recommended limit of added sugar for a 2,000 calorie diet (50g). Eating too many added sugars can contribute to type 2 diabetes and weight gain.”
Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of proactive measures to prevent health-related issues, stating that sugar is one of the leading causes of diseases. The rule is scheduled to go into effect on June 19 for prepackaged food items and December 1 for other items.
This new regulation follows in the footsteps of previous public health policies in the city, such as banning artificial trans fat from chain restaurants and requiring calorie counts on menus. Critics of such regulations have argued that officials are turning the city into a “nanny state.”