Salt Ban

Salt Ban

From March 11, 2010 Fox News New York:

MYFOXNY.COM - Some New York City chefs and restaurant owners are taking aim at a bill introduced in the New York Legislature that, if passed, would ban the use of salt in restaurant cooking.

"No owner or operator of a restaurant in this state shall use 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, A. 10129 , states in part.

The legislation, which Assemblyman Felix Ortiz , D-Brooklyn, introduced on March 5, would fine restaurants $1,000 for each violation.

"The consumer needs to make their own health choices. Just as doctors and the occasional visit to a hospital can't truly control how a person chooses to maintain their health, neither can chefs nor the occasional visit to a restaurant," said Jeff Nathan, the executive chef and co-owner of Abigael's on Broadway. "Modifying trans fats and sodium intake needs to be home based for optimal health. Regulating restaurants will not solve this health issue."

Look, there are people that use too much salt. I suspect that if you eat out all the time, salt might be a problem. But if you eat out that much, you have bigger problems. There are items that people eat/smoke/drink that in moderation, are not a problem. A beer a day won't endanger your health. Lightly salting your food won't be a problem either. On the other hand, I doubt that there's a safe level of tobacco use, and so far, the evidence suggests that there isn't a safe level of marijuana use (I mean, if you want to remain sane). Salt is is definitely in the "use in moderation, not a problem" category.