A tiny saltshaker symbol that warns certain meals are high in sodium will start to appear on Tuesday on menus in chain restaurants in New York City, the first US city to take the step in an effort to combat heart disease and stroke.

12月1日起，纽约市所有连锁餐厅的菜单上，高钠食物都要附上一个小盐瓶的标志。纽约是全美第一个实行这项规定的城市，目的在于与心脏病和中风作斗争。

Any menu item containing more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium, the daily limit many nutritionists recommend and which equals about one teaspoon of salt, must display the emblem of a salt shaker in a black triangle.

菜单上钠含量超过2300毫克的食物必须加上一个带有盐瓶的黑色三角形警告标志。营养学家认为，人均每日纳摄取量应控制在2300毫克，差不多相当于一勺盐。

The measure unanimously approved by the New York City Board of Health in September applies only to restaurants with at least 15 establishments across the US, and concession stands at some movie theaters and sports stadiums.

今年9月，纽约市卫生局全体一致通过此项规定。在全美各地拥有15家以上分店的餐厅以及一些影院和体育场馆的小餐厅都将适用该规定。

"It's not hard to get 2.3 grams of sodium into your face," said Dr Howard Weintraub, co-director of NYU Langone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

纽约大学心血管疾病预防中心主任霍华德·温特劳布博士说：“人们在不知不觉中就摄入了超过2.3克的纳元素。”

An eye-opener

食物含盐量惊呆食客

The new menu labels may be an eye-opener for customers who flock to chains such as Chipotle and Subway, which are perceived to be more healthy. Until Tuesday, they may have been blissfully unaware of the sodium content of a Chipotle loaded chicken burrito (2,790 mg), Subway's foot-long (30.5 cm) spicy Italian sub (2,980 mg), TGI Friday's classic Buffalo wings (3,030 mg) or Applebee's grilled shrimp and spinach salad (2,990 mg).

在美国人眼中，“小辣椒”和“赛百味”连锁餐厅相对于其它餐厅来说似乎更为健康。对于常去这些餐厅的人来说，新的菜单警告标志令人震惊。12月1日之前，他们还沉浸在美食的喜悦中，并没有意识到：一份墨西哥双层鸡肉卷的钠含量达2790毫克；赛百味1英尺（30.5厘米）长的意大利香辣三明治钠含量为2980毫克；“星期五餐厅”的经典烤鸡翅钠含量为3030毫克；“阿普尔比”连锁餐厅的烤虾菠菜沙拉钠含量为2990毫克。

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in New York City, claiming nearly 17,000 lives in 2013, the Health Department said. It noted a "well-established connection" between sodium intake and high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

纽约市卫生部门表示，心血管疾病是导致纽约人死亡的最主要原因，2013年夺走了近1.7万人的生命。卫生部还指出，纳摄取量和高血压之间“确定有联系”，高血压是造成心脏病和中风的主要危险因素。

A 2010 study found New Yorkers consume more than 3,200 mg of sodium each day on average, with higher intake among blacks and Hispanics, the health department said.

卫生部门表示，2010年的一项研究发现，纽约人日均纳摄取量超过3200毫克。其中，黑人和西班牙裔纳摄取量更高。

Getting New Yorkers to start watching their sodium intake is a first step that health advocates hope will prompt other behavioral changes.

健康倡导者认为，让纽约人自觉控制自己的纳摄取量还只是开始，他们希望以此促使人们出现其它的行为变化。

"Things are not going to work out great if all you do is just not eat salt," Weintraub said. "But maybe, just maybe, they'll start to watch how much they eat, maybe they will get off the subway a stop earlier and walk, instead of taking the elevator, they will walk two flights, there will be some weight loss."

温特劳布说：“如果只是不吃盐的话，根本起不了什么作用。但是也许，仅仅是也许，他们会开始关注自身对食盐的摄取量；也许会在地铁前一站下车，步行至目的地；也许会放弃搭乘电梯，自己爬两层楼，减轻一点体重。”

The sodium warning label pressed by Mayor Bill de Blasio echoed a series of efforts by his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, including banning smoking in public places and requiring fast food joints to post calorie counts.

纽约现任市长为比尔·白思豪，他颁布高纳食物警告标志的规定与上一任纽约市长迈克尔·布隆伯格的部分举措有相似之处。布隆伯格曾下令禁止在公共场合吸烟，并要求快餐店标明食物的卡路里含量。