NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz 51st A.D.

Albany Office Room 826, Legislative Office Building Albany, New York 12248 518-455-3821 District Office 404 55st Street Brooklyn, New York 11220 718-492-6334

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2012

Contact: (518) 455-3821.

ORTIZ APPLAUDS BOSTON MARKET "SHAKE DOWN"

Chain Removes Salt Shakers From Tables and Reduces Sodium Levels

(Albany, NY) - Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (51st A.D.) hailed Boston Market's decision to remove salt shakers from tables and reduce the sodium content of their food. Ortiz has worked for over 10 years to prevent childhood obesity, improve nutrition and reduce diabetes. He has sponsored ground breaking legislation that would prohibit restaurants and food establishments from using salt when preparing food for consumers. "I am very pleased to see that Boston Market is moving in a positive direction to reduce the use of salt and sodium in food. I supported New York City Mayor Bloomberg's initiative to reduce the amount of salt in packaged and restaurant foods by 25 percent over the next five years. My legislation would put the control of the sodium intake into the customers hands, it would give them an option to choose a healthier diet and healthier lifestyle," said Ortiz. A report issued by the World Health Organization indicated that three quarters or more of the sodium intake in the U.S. comes from processed or restaurant foods. Another study by the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that lowering the amount of salt people eat, even by a small amount, could reduce cases of heart disease, stroke and heart attacks as much as reductions in smoking, obesity and cholesterol levels. Scientists in that study claim that everyone would benefit from less salt, but people at higher risk for heart problems, i.e. people with hypertension or people over 65, would benefit the most. The study also stated that: If everyone consumed half a teaspoon less salt per day, there would be between 54,000 and 99,000 fewer heart attacks each year and between 44,000 and 92,000 fewer deaths. "It is time the rest of the food industry takes action to stop forcing customers to purchase foods very high in sodium. By removing salt shakers from tables it will help consumers think twice before pouring extra salt on their food. Reducing the sodium levels in cooking will also help consumers train their taste buds to welcome food that is not as salty. These changes will help save lives and reduce health care expenditures," added Ortiz. --30--