BECAUSE, the overconsumption of sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

BECAUSE, about 4.9 million adults in New York (31%) report being told by a health professional they have high blood pressure, and 80% of that group reports taking medication to control it.

BECAUSE, high blood pressure is significantly more prevalent among Black, non-Hispanic adults (37.3%) compared to white, non-Hispanic adults (32.4%) in New York State.

BECAUSE, in NYC, people of color (Black, Latino, and Asian) are much more likely to have high blood pressure than their white counterparts.

BECAUSE, the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults limit their sodium intake to 2,300 mg/day (equal to about 1 teaspoon) to reduce the risk of chronic disease. However, about 90 percent of people living in the U.S. consume excessive sodium, with an average daily intake of 3,393 mg of sodium a day (1½ teaspoons), nearly one and a half times the recommended limit.

BECAUSE, dietary sodium reduction is a recommended strategy for prevention and treatment of hypertension and is supported by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, and other leading medical organizations.

BECAUSE, the average sodium content of a default combination meal at a chain restaurant in the U.S. is 2,110 milligrams, a value that aggressively approaches the daily limit for sodium (2,300mg/day).

BECAUSE, the sodium content in similar menu items at different restaurant chains varies significantly, making it impossible for consumers to know how much sodium they are ordering. For example, a medium order of "natural-cut" fries at Wendy's contains over twice as much sodium as a  medium order of fries at McDonald’s (550mg / 24%DV vs 260mg / 11%DV), respectively).

BECAUSE, sodium warning icons can increase consumers’ knowledge of sodium content and lead to lower-sodium food purchases.

BECAUSE, warning icons provide a pictorial element that makes them accessible to low literacy and non-English speaking consumers, providing more equitable access to information.