Court Rejects Injunction in NYC Salt Warning Case

A New York state court has reportedly refused to grant the National
Restaurant Association’s request for a preliminary injunction to stall the
enforcement of New York City’s new requirement that chain restaurants
label menu items containing 2,300 mg of salt or more, which is set to
take effect March 1, 2016. Nat’l Restaurant Assoc. v. New York City
Dept. of Health, No. 654024/2015 (N.Y. Super. Ct., New York Cty.,
order entered February 24, 2016).

During the hearing, the court reportedly distinguished the rule from
a ban on the ingredient, noting, “It’s not a ban. It’s information. It’s a
warning.” Under the rule, chain restaurants must display a logo of a
triangle with the image of a salt shaker next to applicable menu items or
risk a $200 fine for each infraction. See Bloomberg, February 24, 2016.

Issue 595