The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) might finally be doing something about hidden sugar in our food. On Friday, the FDA made a formal proposal which would force nutrition labels to state outright how much sugar is in a food item.
Not only that, but labels would also have to inform Americans of the recommended amount of sugar to be consumed daily.
The FDA proposed requiring food labels to list added sugar and recommended consumption levels. https://t.co/uXZiWjjr81 pic.twitter.com/NQ2e9es8Ld
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 24, 2015
“This is how policy should work—agencies listening to scientists and relying on the best available research to make smart policies," said Pallavi Phartiyal, senior analyst and program manager at the Center for Science and Democracy at UCS. "By proposing a daily recommended limit for added sugar, the FDA is acting in the public interest."
If the proposal will be realized, it could send shockwaves through the food and beverage industry. Hidden sugar isn’t just a problem with obviously sweet food, some of the worst culprits are located nowhere near the candy aisle.
Why The FDA Wants Food Companies To Give More Detail About The Sugar In Their… https://t.co/PYn3NWfV1e #UniteBlue pic.twitter.com/UGy6U9hypO — The Progressive Mind (@Libertea2012) July 26, 2015
“Nearly three-quarters of packaged foods contain added sugar, but today, there’s no way for customers to know how much of their calories they’re getting from this sugar," Phartiyal pointed out in the statement. "Americans are eating an average of 19.5 teaspoons of sugar a day, and that has a real effect on public health."
As Americans become increasingly health-conscious, the population has used improving nutritional label descriptions to avoice sugary food.
FDA to update label #design & include new "Added sugars" row. Sugar Assocation not happy: https://t.co/KdPE9alJE1 pic.twitter.com/nQHtUy01wN
— dps (@davidpetersimon) July 26, 2015
This food label change would hopefully allow customers to know about all the various sweeteners that companies use, ingredients that aren’t always easy to figure out. The FDA acknowledged Friday its “responsibility” to Americans in making it easier to know exactly what they’re eating.
With this update, the Sugar Association has voiced its discontent with a 17-page letter to the FDA, arguing "the lack of science to justify 'added sugars' labeling sets an alarming precedent for this and future food product labeling regulations."
