Fast food chains located in New York City are required to label menu items that are high in added sugar with a specific logo.
The rule, implemented by the New York City Health Department (NYC Health Department), became mandatory on Oct. 4 and also applies to any prepackaged food or drink or non-packaged equivalent that contains 50 grams or more of added sugars.
“The restaurant creates the warning icon in compliance with the requirements,” NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene assistant press secretary Gilda D. Gillim told NTD. “We expect excellent compliance from these restaurants.”
Currently, the daily recommended limit for a 2,000-calorie diet is 50 grams because eating and drinking more can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and tooth decay over time.
Under the new policy, some 4,000 restaurants in New York City that are part of chains that have 15 or more locations nationwide are expected to comply.
“Failure to comply may result in a summons subject to fines,” Gillim said. “Grocery stores are not included in this local law.”
The size in which fast food drinks are packaged is what alarms nutritionists like New York-based Nicolette Pace.
Examples include the McFlurry at McDonald’s, which is a sweet frozen treat made with vanilla ice cream that’s combined with crushed cookies or candies like Oreos and M&Ms.
“It’s coming from really just jumbo-sizing everything,” Pace told NTD. “The main source is high-calorie beverages.”
The McDonald’s menu states that a large size McFlurry with M&Ms contains 128 grams of sugar and a large size McFlurry made with Oreo Cookies has 103 grams of sugar.
“If it’s the regular size, it falls below the 15 grams,” Pace said. “There’s also the Berry Hibiscus Sourade, which is really over the top and a large milkshake.”
The Berry Hibiscus Sourade, which contains 108 grams of sugar, according to the McDonald’s menu, is a sweet hibiscus berry blend mixed with lemonade and Kombucha powder that comes in various flavors, including dragon fruit, blueberries, and strawberries.
NYC Sugar Label
McDonald’s company leaders did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
“At Subway, it’s the large size, sugary drinks, believe it or not, and not necessarily sandwiches, or even cookies,” Pace added. “Sauce toppings like barbecue sauce, sweet onion dressing are mentioned, and one cookie is only 18 grams of sugar.”
Subway company leaders did not respond to requests for comment.
New York City is the first in the nation to implement a warning icon for added sugars, according to a NYC Health Department press release.
The legislation was passed in 2023 by the New York City Council.
“This rule underlines our longstanding work to ensure New Yorkers have information about the food they eat,” Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said. “Just one large sugary drink can exceed the daily recommended amount of added sugars. Through this rule, we aim for New Yorkers to have more insight into the amount of sugar in certain products to make more informed choices.”
A spokesperson for Starbucks named Erin Shane Riley said the popular coffee chain does not offer prepackaged food or non-prepackaged items that are identical to a prepackaged food item with more than 50 grams of added sugar.
“Therefore, customers will not see a change to signage or labels at Starbucks stores in New York City,” Riley told NTD.