Res No. 692
Resolution calling on the United States Congress to introduce and pass, and the President to sign, legislation that would require nutrition labels on food and drink products to include consumer education markings
By Council Members Hudson and Feliz
Whereas, Countries and communities worldwide are facing an increasing prevalence of obesity and other non-communicable diseases tied to ultra-processed products; and
Whereas, Ultra-processed products are heavily marketed, often towards children, usually with no reference to potential health risks; and
Whereas, According to America’s Health Rankings, 29.5 percent of New Yorkers across the state have a body mass index of 30.0 or higher, which ranks seventh lowest in the country; and
Whereas, While the overall percentage of residents who report a body mass index of 30.0 or higher in New York City is lower citywide, 26.8 percent, rates can vary by borough and community, with 37.4 percent of Bronx residents having a body mass index of 30.0 or higher, according to the City’s Environment and Health Data Portal; and
Whereas, The rate in the Bronx is equivalent to the rate in Wisconsin, which ranks 41st in the country, according to America’s Health Rankings; and
Whereas, Food illiteracy is a global issue, according to an article published in the journal Nutrients, affecting people of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic status, and contributes to health inequities, especially among vulnerable populations; and
Whereas, According to NSF, a globally recognized public health and safety organization, while 83 percent of consumers read food labels before making a purchase decision, about 20 percent of consumers report struggling to interpret nutritional information, with 82 percent wanting more detailed processing information and 80 percent wanting more comprehensive allergen information; and
Whereas, In this environment, it is crucial New Yorkers, and Americans more broadly, have access to the information they need when making decisions about the food they buy and consume, which the nutrition labels currently required by the Federal Government may not adequately provide; and
Whereas, Policy makers at all levels of government have sought to address food illiteracy, with the New York City Council passing Local Law 150 of 2023, which requires chain restaurants in New York City to indicate on their menus when an item contains excessive added sugars; and
Whereas, Nutrition labels are regulated by the Code of Federal Regulations, which only requires nutrition labels to list all component quantities in relation to a serving, which is defined as the amount of food customarily consumed per eating occasion by persons 4 years of age or older; and
Whereas, In Chile, consumer education markings, including hexagonal warning labels mandatory for products high in salt, sugar, saturated fat, and calories, have had a real impact on consumer habits, according to Health Policy Watch, lowering households’ overall consumption of these products in that country; and
Whereas, Crucially, these changes in consumer behavior were seen equitably across socioeconomic groups, meaning these labeling requirements allow all Chileans to make healthier and more informed decisions about the products they consume; and
Whereas; Implementing a policy such as Chile’s, or the United Kingdom’s voluntary but widely followed policy called front-of-pack labelling, which uses a traffic light system to inform consumers about whether a product has high, medium, or low levels of potentially harmful ingredients, according to the British Nutrition Foundation, would help consumers safeguard their health, improving various health outcomes in communities throughout New York and the United States; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the United States Congress to introduce and pass, and the President to sign, legislation that would require nutrition labels on food and drink products to include consumer education markings.
JN
LS 24800
8/19/2026