What if the foods that you enjoy in restaurants would no longer have salt in them? In New York this may become a reality. New York Assemblyman Felix Ortiz has decided to introduce a bill that would ban the use of salt in food prepared in restaurants in the state.
The thought behind this bill is so that customers in restaurants have the control over their sodium intake while dining out. According to the World Health Organization approximately seventy-five percent of the sodium we consume in the US comes from prepared or restaurant foods.
“Studies have also proven that lowering the amount of salt people eat, even by small amounts, could reduce cases of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks as much as reductions in smoking, obesity, and cholesterol levels,” Mr.Ortiz said in an article by Nation’s Restaurant News.
The bill, A. 10129, states that, “No owner or operator of a restaurant in this state shall use salt in any form in the preparation of any food for consumption by customers of such restaurant, including food prepared to be consumed on the premises of such restaurant or off of such premises.” A restaurant that violated the law, if passed, would face a fine of $1000 for each offense.
To those of us who cook frequently at home or for a profession, this bill seems to be a bit much. Salt is used in the preparation of almost every type of food, from enhancing flavor to curing meats to giving a pinch to a loaf of bread or cake. Reducing sodium seems like an achievable goal, but cutting it out entirely could be disastrous for many food related businesses.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to ask for no salt to be added to their meal or given a salt free option? Chefs and cooks at home usually know the right amount of salt to make their food taste just right so that those at the table shouldn’t have to salt their food. What do you think about this type of bill? Do you like the idea of controlling your own salt intake at a restaurant or would you prefer to have a chef do it on their own?
Photo by SoraZG.
Thu, Mar 11, 2010
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