NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A new bill was proposed in City Council which would require chain restaurants to include a warning label on their menu next to items with high amounts of sugar.
The bill, dubbed the “Sweet Truth Act,” was proposed by Manhattan Councilmember Keith Powers and backed by health advocates. The idea is to have menus include an icon next to items with more than 50 grams of added sugars.
“A large fountain soda in a fast food restaurant probably has probably 15 or 16 packets of sugar in it,” Powers told 1010 WINS. “I don't know any New Yorker who puts 15 or 16 packets of sugar in their coffee or add that into any drink.”
Powers added that the aim of his new bill is to get as much information as possible to New Yorkers about food, specifically about sugar content, so that they can make the right decisions for their own body.
The American Heart Association recommends a limit of 36 grams of sugar per day for men and 25 grams a day for women.
“You're not controlling the amount of sugar when you go to Starbucks because they're pumping in the syrups that are very high sugar and you're thinking ‘oh, I'll just put syrup in there and I won't put my own sugar in there,’” said Registered Dietician Stephanie Schiff. “But that syrup is a lot of trouble. And if you don't know what that syrups made up of, you're playing blind.”
With the new bill, Powers said restaurants that are not compliant would face consequences.
“If you don't put up [the warning], then there's going to be a fine for any establishment that doesn't comply with it,” Powers said. “And certainly we will make sure that people are doing it in a clear and concise way.”
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