Ortiz Promotes Salt Ban for New York City Restaurants
The recent span of earthquakes may have been caused from Julia Child rolling over in her grave, possibly kicking and screaming, at the foolishness introduced to the New York Legislative Assembly.
For New York City restaurants, the mention of the name Felix Ortiz, (pictured right) is like rubbing salt into a wound. Well, perhaps it wouldn't be salt in the wound -- Ortiz, a member of the city's Legislative Assembly has introduced a bill that would ban the use of salt in the city's restaurant kitchens.
Can government officials think of anything else, aside from closing restaurants for good, to make the life of restaurant owner's and employee's any more difficult?
After struggling with diminshing customer counts, decreasing returns on investment, and diminshing cash flow and profits, now restaurant owners must face Ortiz's analysis of the bittersweet effect salt has on the consumer. The democratic member from Brooklyn claims the new legislation would give consumers the choice as to whether they wanted to add salt to their meals. His mother should be ashamed as the pol rubs a dash of salt into the city's wounded.
Bill A10129 would ban salt from kitchens and the recipes chefs use to create some of the best food in the world, in the world's best city for food.
Chefs and restaurants trying to sneak salt into a recipe could face a $1,000.00 fine if caught.
Ortiz, following New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's campaign to cut salt consumption by 25 percent in the next five years, has met with bitter reaction.
According to Tom Colicchio, owner of Craft, "If they banned salt, nobody would come here any more."
Naomi Novotny knows salt. Sea salt, that is. As one of the co-founders of Saltworks Novotny's company is a major importer and supplier of sea salt. Since the Woodinville, Washington based company began in 2002, they have become a major player in the salt world.
"The public definitely has a right to know what's in their food, but banning salt is crazy," Novotny said when asked her opinion on the legislation.
"We definitely think there is a difference between the use of refined salt and all natural sea salt. Sea salt helps to regulate body functions while adding a quality to food. Novotny said, adding, "I would rather see people being educated on the problems of salt rather than an outright ban."
Currently New York estimates over 1.5 million residents suffer from high blood pressure. Increased salt intake can worsen the effects of high blood pressure and can increase disease fatalities. The average daily salt intake is 3400 milligrams while the recommended intake is 2300 milligrams.
Processed foods, potato chips, Doritos, and other snack foods are high contributors to the increase of salt intake on a daily basis.
If salt is banned from New York City kitchens, consumers will be able to salt their own food from vessels still available on tables.
Where is Julia when we need her?
