Sweet Truth Act Passes Assembly Health Committee, Next Up Codes Committee

ALBANY, NY (05/12/2026) (readMedia)-- Yesterday, the Assembly Health Committee passed the Sweet Truth Act (S427/A5305), legislation designed to strengthen menu transparency and help New Yorkers make more informed dining choices. Sponsored by Senate Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, the bill would mandate clear warning labels for high-added sugar menu items at chain restaurants, extending the protections from NYC's existing Sweet Truth Act to families statewide. The bill now advances to the Assembly Codes Committee, and awaits action in the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee.

In New York City, fast food restaurants are often concentrated in communities of color, where families face aggressive marketing of unhealthy items, including high added-sugar products linked to costly diet-driven diseases like diabetes. Many of these chains fail to provide clear nutritional information, leaving customers unaware that certain meals exceed the daily recommended limits for added sugars. By alerting consumers about excessive sugar content, clear warning icons can help families reduce their risk of chronic disease and lower healthcare costs.

"The Center for Science in the Public Interest commends the Assembly Health Committee for its leadership in passing the Sweet Truth Act. Too many New Yorkers are ordering out without knowing the sugar content of what they are eating, contributing to rising rates of obesity, heart disease, and other preventable health conditions. The Sweet Truth Act would change that, giving consumers the transparency they deserve and motivating restaurants to develop healthier, lower sugar menu options. Time is running out this session. We call on both chambers to act now and protect the health of New Yorkers," said Dr. DeAnna Nara, CSPI Campaign Manager.

In a recent letter to Albany lawmakers, former New York State and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett endorsed the Sweet Truth Act as part of a larger food reform package to close health disparities.

BACKGROUND

Sweet Truth Act (S427/A5305): Empowers New Yorkers to make informed choices when dining out. The 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.

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