New York City is the first city in the US to implement a sugar label on food items containing more than 50 grams of sugar at chain restaurants.
Starting on October 4, roughly 4,000 stores in the city now show an icon with a spoon slightly overfilled with sugar, within a black triangle, beside items that surpass the recommended amount.
“Every New Yorker deserves access to delicious, healthy food that they feel good about eating,” Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said in a press release. “As the first in the nation to add a warning icon for added sugars, this rule underlines our longstanding work to ensure New Yorkers have information about the food they eat. Just one large sugary drink can exceed the daily recommended amount of added sugars. Through this rule, we aim for New Yorkers to have more insight into the amount of sugar in certain products to make more informed choices.”
The release mentions the importance of transparency with consumers knowing the quantity of ingredients consumed in food items and their overall calories.
“By clearly labeling products that exceed the daily recommended limit for added sugars, we are giving everyone the tools they need to make informed dietary choices and reduce their risk of chronic health issues like diabetes and heart disease,” said NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman. “Combining public education with strong policy action is the path to better health outcomes.”
The city also cites the dietary guidelines which say that at “age 2, to less than 10% of daily caloric intake, the equivalent of 200 calories (50 g per day) in a 2,000-calorie daily diet, and not giving any added sugars to children under 2 years old.”
According to the release, this guideline is made difficult to follow due to the heavy amounts of sugar in just one bottled beverage.
“Americans on average consume much more added sugars than recommended (more than 67 g). For example, a 20-ounce bottle of popular sodas, energy drinks, and ice teas can contain more than 60 grams of added sugars.”
Chain restaurants that don’t comply with the sugar label policy by the outset of 2026 will receive a summons and possible fine of $200.
