New York City using salt warning to fight against heart disease, stroke

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According to Reuters, starting on Tuesday, restaurants in New York City will start using a salt shaker symbol to warn customers about meals that contain high sodium in their menu. This is a move intended to combat cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke.

It is no secret to the world that salt can contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The World Action on Salt and Heath stated that salt is considered to be the biggest factor in raising one's blood pressure while blood pressure is the major cause for the occurrence of heart-related health problems.

Increased blood pressure is accountable for 49 percent of all coronary heart disease cases and 62 percent of all stroke cases.

Due to this, New York has decided to come up with a smart move in fighting this risk. They will require restaurants to use their salt shaker warning sign in any of their food menu containing more than the daily sodium limit that most nutritionists suggest. This means that customers will see the salt shaker sign on meals that contain more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium.

The USA Today reported that this measure has been approved in September by the New York City Board of Health.

According to Mary Bassett, New York's heath commissioner, this measure can help the public be aware of the salt content of the food they usually order. This is an important measure not just for her, but for everyone considering that this concerns the number one cause of death in the city.

This salt measure is not the first health initiative taken by New York City. There are already a lot of previous heath initiatives that have been implemented in the city. Among these are required calorie counts, city-banned smoking, and limits on sugary drinks, the World Street Journal said.

The city is taking another step forward toward a healthier life by having this salt shaker sign that represents high-sodium meals.

Starting on Tuesday, the public will now see the small salt shaker sign in a restaurant's food menu. However, not all New York restaurants will be participating. Only those New York restaurants with 15 franchises nationwide are required

Applebee, a well-known restaurant, has already embraced using the salt shaker sign since the beginning of November even when it is not yet required at that time.

Though the restaurants are asked to use the salt warning on Tuesday. Health inspectors won't start collecting the $200 fines on restaurants who do not follow the measure until March 2016, according to the city officials.