Sodium Warning Rules

Combination Meals

Multiple food items are sometimes packaged, sold, or served together as meals meant for individual customers. If the entire combination meal contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium or more, you must place the sodium warning icon next to the combination meal on the menu. 

Some food establishments sell combination meals that allow customers to choose from different options for parts of the meal. If any possible combination of items results in a meal with 2,300 milligrams of sodium or more, you must place the warning icon next to the item on the menu.

Food Items With Multiple Servings

Some food items contain multiple servings meant to be shared by more than one person, like a pizza or a “family-size” meal. For these items, if a single serving has less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium or more, you don’t have to label the item with the warning icon, even if all servings added together contain more than 2,300 milligrams. But if each serving has 2,300 milligrams or more, you must place the warning icon next to the item on the menu. In this case, you would have to post the icon next to the listing for the entire item or next to the single-serving item, depending on how the item is listed on the menu.

Customizable Food Items

Food items can often be customized or have different toppings or ingredients based on the customer’s preferences. If any possible version of the item contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium or more, you must place the warning icon next to the item on the menu.
 

The icon is a salt shaker symbol in a black triangle. Every food establishment must use the same image. You cannot stretch or shrink the icon’s shape, and the icon must always be as wide as it is tall. The icon must also be equal in height to the largest letter of the food item’s name, as displayed on the menu, menu board, or item tag.

Sodium Warning Statements must be posted in a clearly visible place where customers place their orders. The statement explains what the Sodium Warning Icon means and that having too much sodium is a health risk. 

The statement must be:

“Warning: [Sodium warning icon] indicates that the sodium (salt) content of this item is higher than the total daily recommended limit (2,300 mg). High sodium intake can increase blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke.”

All food establishments and mobile food vendors must comply if they:

• Are part of a national or local chain with 15 or more outlets
• Offer mostly the same menu items at each location
• Offer food with similar portion sizes and ingredients at each location

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