Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program
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Heart Beat of the Month
New York is First Major City to Set Nutrition Standards for all Foods Purchased and Served
New York City has announced the adoption of nutrition standards for all foods purchased and served by City agencies with the goal of improving the health of all New Yorkers served by City agencies. The new standards apply to the 225 million meals and snacks served annually at schools, senior centers, homeless shelters, child care centers, after school programs, correctional facilities, public hospitals and parks and other NYC Agency facilities and programs. The Standards reflect the latest scientific consensus regarding the elements of a healthy diet. City agencies have until March 19, 2009 to comply with the standards.
Read the press release
Read the Food Procurement Standards (PDF)
New York City Board of Health Restricts the Use of Trans Fat in Restaurants.
Now in full effect.
On December 5, 2006, the Board of Health approved an amendment to the Health Code to phase out artificial trans fat in all NYC restaurants and other food service establishments. It is now in full effect.
The phase out of artificial trans fat took effect in two stages. First, as of July 1, 2007, NYC food service establishments have been prohibited from using oils, shortening and margarine containing artificial trans fat for frying or as a spreads that have 0.5 grams or more of trans fat per serving. The second and final deadline was July 1, 2008. As of July 1 2008, all foods must have less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving if they contain any artificial trans fat. Packaged foods served in the manufacturer's original, sealed packaging are exempt.
Detailed information
is available for food service establishments on how to comply with the new Trans fat regulation. To receive a printed brochure on
the "Regulations to Phase Out Artificial Trans Fat in New York City Food Service
Establishments", please call 311.
Visit the Trans
Fat Help Center website for information on how to replace
artificial trans fat with 0 grams trans fat products in your food service
establishments.
Questions regarding trans fat violations should be
directed to the Bureau of Food Safety at the Health Department by calling
311.
To learn more about Trans fat.
Get Your Blood Pressure Checked at a Local Pharmacy Today!
The Health Department has teamed up with local pharmacies to offer free blood pressure checks in certain areas of East and Central Harlem, North Central Brooklyn and the South Bronx. For a list of participating pharmacies, click here. If you don't live or work in these neighborhoods, many pharmacies around the city also have blood pressure machines where you can get your blood pressure checked for free, so check out your local pharmacy. High blood pressure can lead to a deadly heart attack or stroke. Because it often has no symptoms, the only way to know you have it is to get checked. People who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, also called hypertension, can better control their blood pressure if they get it checked on a regular basis. For more information on high blood pressure, click here.
In New York City...
Heart Disease is the #1 cause of death regardless of race or ethnicity and for both men and women.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death.
Heart disease and stroke are two of the most common diseases that make up cardiovascular disease.
In 2006...
- 22,000 New Yorkers died from heart disease
- 1,700 more people died from stroke
- Almost 1/3 of the people who died from cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) were under the age of 75.
The most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
- Advancing age
- Gender
- Family history
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Tobacco use
- Obesity & overweight
- Physical inactivity
For more information on reducing your risk, see our publications and resources.
Recent Publications
