UPDATE: Bill would ban NY restaurants from using salt during food preparation

ALBANY -- A bill introduced in the New York State Assembly late last week would ban restaurants from using salt during food preparation.

The proposal, penned by Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, would make illegal using salt, in any form, “in the preparation of any food for consumption by customers of such restaurant, including food prepared to be consumed on the premises of such restaurant or off of such premises,” the bill states.

The penalty for breaking the law would be up to $1,000 for each time salt is used.

Ortiz told CBS 6 the salt ban proposal is just one component of a healthy-living plan he’s been working on for years. He said you obviously need sodium to make food, but there is excessive sodium in the food that gets prepared in restaurants now.

He said his proposal is all about giving people a choice that they don’t have now. Essentially, you can choose to have the extra salt by adding it yourself.

Ortiz has a history of laws he admits feature a differing opinion or different perspective (see some selected proposals at the bottom of the article). He said they spark debate.

“Today’s the first day of conversation,” he said. “This is a can opener.”

Ortiz said he’s heard mention of the bill on five different national talk shows and each brought in a doctor who had a different opinion, but agreed on one thing.

“If we lower consumption of sodium, we will lower the problems of death and cardiovascular disease in New York State,” Ortiz said.

He said he sees this proposal as a way to get questions answered, get people motivated and to get people educated about living a healthy lifestyle.

His reasons are also personal. His father -- who was suffering from hypertension -- had a mild heart attack and stroke. Doctors told his father to reduce his sodium intake.

There’s also an economic impact of high cholesterol, he points out, from the expenses to pay for health care.

Whether the bill goes anywhere, Ortiz said, he believes he’s made a difference.

“This is about saving lives,” he said. 

[Read the complete bill text here]

Some of the other bills Ortiz has sponsored:

A02453: Prohibits the writing, sending or reading of text messages on a mobile telephone while driving.

A02455: Imposes additional tax on certain food and drink items, and imposes a tax on video games, commercials, and movies.

A04265: Provides a tax deduction of up to ten thousand dollars for any person who donates a human organ to another human being.

A04286: Requires skiers to wear protective helmets

A08443: Relates to prohibiting the sale or use of artificial trans fats in food service establishments, mobile food service establishments and retail food stores.

A07126: Establishes a ten dollar surcharge to be paid by customers of sexually oriented businesses and establishes the crime victims fund.

A02627: Provides for required instruction in physical education in elementary schools

A08158: Establishes a two dollar surcharge on the purchase of sexually oriented media.

A09761: Prohibits the advertisement of alcoholic beverages during television broadcasts of sporting events prior to 10:00 p.m.