Legislation warning consumers of chain restaurant menu items with more than a day’s worth of sugar is reintroduced in NYC City Council

Statement of CSPI Senior Policy Associate DeAnna Nara

It’s time for New Yorkers to know exactly how much added sugars are lurking in the meals we consume at chain restaurants. Even most “small” fountain drinks at fast food restaurants have more than an entire day’s worth—50 grams, or twelve and a half teaspoons. And regularly consuming menu items like those raises New Yorkers’ risks of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.

We need the Sweet Truth Act so that New Yorkers will be able to see at a glance whether the drink, dessert, entrée, or side dish they’re about to order has more than a day’s worth of added sugars. The city has already adopted a similar requirement for pre-packaged menu items last year, but the bill introduced today will cover all items–most importantly, fountain drinks.

We are grateful for the leadership of Council Majority Leader Keith Powers, and for the support of a broad and diverse coalition of community groups, more than 180 of whom are calling for passage of the Sweet Truth Act.

Besides providing this critical information to New Yorkers, the city would, not for the first time, lead the nation and inspire cities, counties, and states across the country to adopt similar measures that help their citizens make healthy choices and prevent and manage diet-related disease.