Philly might require chain restaurant menus to note sodium content

City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown says it's a matter of showing people just what's inside the fast food they are consuming.

Tom MacDonald

January 29, 2018

In this undated image provided by the New York City Health Department, a graphic warning New York city consumers of high salt content in foods required on menus at many fast-food and chain restaurants is shown. New York City plans to start enforcing a first-of-its-kind requirement for warning icons on salty chain restaurant foods on June 6, 2016, after getting an appeals court's go-ahead to start issuing fines. (Antonio D'Angelo/New York City Health Department via AP)

Chain restaurants in Philadelphia already have to post calorie counts on their menus. A city councilwoman wants to add another piece of health information.

Restaurants should post the salt content of their foods to fully inform customers, said Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.

“It’s all about heart health, and it’s just a continuation of our menu-labeling work that we did 2008 to 2010,” she said.

The proposed regulation would apply only to items or combo meals with 2,300 milligrams or more of sodium.

WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

It’s a matter of showing people just what’s inside the fast food they are consuming, said Reynolds Brown.

“All of the science tells us that sodium is simply bad for you when it comes to your heart health and high blood pressure,” she said. “So to the extent we can inform citizens, we should.”

Reynolds Brown’s measure also calls for requiring the eateries to post a warning that high sodium intake can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease or stroke.

New York enacted a similar sodium menu law in 2015.

The proposal has not had a hearing yet.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.