Lawmakers, CSPI, Advocates Celebrate Sodium Warning Bill, Urge Leg to Pass Sugar Companion Bill

ALBANY, NY (05/27/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, the Center for the Science in the Public Interest, bill sponsor Assemblymember Karines Reyes, youth, and leading health advocates held a virtual press conference celebrating the passage of the Sodium Warning Bill (S428A/A5207A): legislation designed to strengthen menu transparency at restaurants statewide and help consumers make informed choices.

Watch a recording of the press conference here using the passcode $pFE58B6.

Sponsored by Senate Health Committee Chair Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, the bill would mandate clear warning icons on chain restaurant menus for items that exceed the daily recommended sodium limit, marking a significant step toward reducing sodium intake and lowering New Yorkers' risk of chronic disease. Now, the bill awaits Hochul's signature.

The Sweet Truth Act (S427/A5305), companion legislation which will require clear added-sugar warning icons on chain restaurant menus, is sitting in the Assembly and Senate committees. New York City already requires chain restaurants to alert diners about high-sodium and high added-sugar menu items using clear warning icons, which data shows help to increase customer awareness.

"Families deserve to know the risks on their plate before they order out. High sodium and sugar intake remain leading contributors to hypertension and heart disease, some of New York's leading causes of death. Yet many chain restaurant meals contain excessive amounts of sodium and sugar without clear, accessible warnings at the point of ordering. This bill package empowers New Yorkers to make more informed choices while encouraging restaurants to innovate and offer healthier lower-sodium and sugar options. The Center for Science in the Public Interest applauds the entire State Legislature for passing the Sodium Warning Bill and urges lawmakers to carry the momentum forward by passing the Sweet Truth Act. We urge the Governor to protect public health by signing the Sodium Warning Bill into law," said CSPI Campaign Manager Dr. DeAnna Nara.

"I am incredibly proud that my sodium warning bill has finally passed both houses. When dining out, families are too often exposed to excessive sodium without even knowing it - and the same goes for sugar. New Yorkers deserve clear information? about the food they are purchasing and consuming, so they can make healthy choices for themselves. I urge my colleagues to pass the Sweet Truth Act before session is out, and urge Governor Hochul to sign the Sodium Warning Bill into law," said Senator Gustavo Rivera, prime sponsor of the Sodium Warning Bill and Sweet Truth Act.

"The passage of my Sodium Warning bill is a significant victory for public health, but our work is not finished. When young people are already witnessing the consequences of diet-driven illness in their own families and neighborhoods, we have a moral responsibility to act. Warning labels are a simple, proven tool that puts the power back where it belongs: in the hands of consumers. Every New Yorker, regardless of zip code or income, deserves the same information on their menu. That is equity, and that is what this legislation stands for. I urge my colleagues to send the Sweet Truth Act to the Governor's desk without delay, so we can build on this momentum and ensure that every family in this state has the transparency they deserve at every meal," said Assemblymember Karines Reyes, R.N., prime sponsor of the Sodium Warning Bill and the Sweet Truth Act.

"Families are doing their best to make healthy dietary choices but are often stymied by a lack of transparency and information when they sit down to order at a restaurant," said Charles Moon, MD FAAP, co-chair of the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics' Public Policy & Advocacy Committee. "The state legislature has taken a major step forward in helping families make healthier and more informed dietary choices by passing the Sodium Warning Bill. The NYS AAP calls on the legislature to pass the companion Sweet Truth Act on to the Governor for her signature, and urges the Governor to sign these common sense public health and nutrition bills into law."

"As a high school senior from the Bronx, I have constantly felt and witnessed the harmful effects of junk food throughout my life. We are introduced to a wide range of unhealthy foods early on. From our neighborhoods to our schools-there is often a repeated presence of greasy foods like pizza, chicken nuggets, burgers, and more. We are surrounded by a food apartheid that promotes unhealthy food to low-income individuals; without the right measures taken, this leads to health issues and chronic illness. Our communities should not suffer through these issues, as health is a right everyone should have. These bills will help promote awareness and keep New Yorkers informed when they go out to eat," said Yandel Ramirez, high school student and Chilis on Wheels Fellow.

"Here in the Bronx, health disparities continue to hit our Black and Latino communities the hardest. For seventeen years in a row, the Bronx has ranked as the county with the worst health outcomes, and high sodium and sugar intake are a huge part of the problem. Too many of our families lack the information they need to protect their health while dining out. Mandating warning labels on excessively salty and sugary meals will help guarantee nutrition transparency for all New Yorkers and provide the knowledge to make healthier decisions. We are calling on Governor Hochul to officially sign the Sodium Warning Bill into law, and urging lawmakers to pass the Sweet Truth Act before session's up," said Rashaun Buchanan, Food Justice and Youth Coordinator at Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center.

"This legislative package aligns with our mission to foster a community that promotes healthy lifestyles and empowers people affected by diabetes through education and access to clear, actionable information," said Monica Billger, Director, State Government Affairs, American Diabetes Association.

Each year, New Yorkers spend upwards of $40 million on healthcare for diabetes and hypertension. In a recent letter to Albany lawmakers, former New York State and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett previously endorsed the Sodium Warning Bill and Sweet Truth Act as part of a larger food reform package to close health disparities.

BACKGROUND

Sodium Warning Bill (S428A/A5207A): This bill requires chain restaurants to display warning icons next to menu items containing more than the daily recommended sodium limit of 2,300 milligrams. By providing clear, accessible information to diners, the legislation aims to reduce sodium intake across the population, help address rates of chronic disease, and improve public health outcomes.

Sweet Truth Act (S427/A5305): This bill requires chain restaurants to display warning icons next to menu items that exceed the daily recommended added sugars limit, much like the City Council's 2023 Sweet Truth Act and existing calorie counts, and seeks to protect New Yorkers from a number of diet-driven conditions, including rising rates of diabetes.

Why Sodium and Sugar Reduction Matter:

• Excess Sodium and Sugar in Diets: Restaurant foods, on average, have more sodium per calorie compared to foods purchased in stores, while menu options often come with more than a day's worth of added sugars, making dining out a significant contributor to excessive sodium and sugar intake??.
• The Burden on New York Communities: In New York City, fast food restaurants are predominantly concentrated in communities of color, exposing children and families to high sodium and added sugar content.
• Chronic Disease Risk: In New York, roughly 1 in 10 adults live with diabetes, while over 4.5 million adults report having hypertension, with 79% of those individuals relying on medication to manage the condition?. Excessive sodium and sugar consumption increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, which are among the leading causes of death and disability in New York.
• New York City's Leadership: The sodium warning icon implemented in NYC chain restaurants in 2016 led to increased consumer awareness and modest reductions in sodium levels in newly introduced menu items??.
• Consumer Behavior: Warning labels help diners identify high-sodium foods and choose lower-sodium alternatives, and the same principle applies to added sugars, supporting long-term health benefits for New Yorkers??.

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