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September 17, 2015

Overnight Regulation: Dems push FDA to finalize nutrition rule (The Hill)

House Democrats are calling on the Obama administration to act swiftly in finalizing a rule that would require food producers to list a percent daily value for added sugars on the Nutrition Facts Labels on packaged foods.

In a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said added sugars contribute to a myriad of health issues.

Though the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend limiting added sugars to 10 percent or less of total caloric intake, the lawmakers said most U.S. adults consume between 19.5 and 22 teaspoons of added sugars a day"This is due, in part, to the fact that many foods Americans consume contain added sugars, and often times, it is not apparent to the consumer," they said. "In fact, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, almost three-quarters of packaged foods contain added sugar."

The recommended daily limit for added sugar is a revision to a rule the FDA first proposed in March requiring that "added sugars" be listed in Nutritional Facts Labels.

"Specifying a Daily Value for added sugar will move us further forward in assisting people in making healthier choices," DeLauro said in a statement. "Providing needed context for an acceptable intake of added sugars will make it clear to consumers that added sugars should be limited."

According to the International Food Information Council Foundation 2015 Food and Health Survey, 69 percent of consumers are cutting back on foods that are higher in added sugars and 54 percent of consumers are trying to limit or avoid added sugars entirely.


By:  Lydia Wheeler
Source: The Hill