Assemblyman Proposing Salt Ban Assures His Intentions Are Good

posted at 10:20 am on March 21, 2010 by Howard Portnoy
[ Politicians ]    printer-friendly

As the repercussions of a proposed bill that would fine New York City restaurateurs for using salt reverberate outward, voices from other cities are surfacing. Chicago Tribune writer Mary Schmich wrote a column expressing concern that the Windy City, which outlawed foie gras several years back, might follow New York’s lead.

Here at home, battle lines are being drawn. One group that calls itself My Food My Choice has even drafted a petition demanding that Michael Bloomberg call off his dogs. The group, which is a coalition of chefs, restaurant owners, and consumers, may be preaching to the choir. According to the blog Gothamist, Bloomberg has called the proposal “ridiculous,” adding “You have to have salt when you cook. I do.”

The same article quotes the bill’s creator, Brooklyn Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, claiming his goals are benevolent and that he has been misunderstood:

My intention for this legislation was to prohibit the use of salt as an additive to meals. If salt is a functional component of the recipe, by all means, it should be included. But, when we have meals prepared by restaurants that pile unnecessary amounts of salt, we have a problem.”

Here I’ve been beating up on the poor assemblyman when all he wants to do is prevent me from adding salt at the table if I choose to. I’d also be curious to know what, by Ortiz’s lights, constitutes “unnecessary amounts of salt.”

Here is the exact language of the bill:

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.

Certainly sounds like an infringement on personal liberties to me. I think just to be on the safe side, I’ll sign that petition. If you care about how—or if—your food tastes, maybe you should do the same.

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