Health Group Coalition Urges “Added Sugar” Labeling

The American Heart Association, Center for Science in the Public Interest and
Environmental Working Group (EWG) have issued a February 23, 2012, letter
to the Food and Drug Administration, requesting that the agency compel
food labels to denote “added sugars” separately on ingredient lists. Signed by
11 additional organizations, the letter cites national survey data suggesting
“that the usual intake of added sugars for Americans is 22.2 teaspoons per day,
which is the equivalent of 355 calories, despite the recommended daily limit
that women get only 100 daily calories and men only 150 from added sugars.” It
therefore claims that breaking out added sugars “like high fructose corn syrup,
sucrose and corn sweetener” on food labels will help consumers better evaluate
their purchases.

Under the coalition’s proposal, food labels would consider the term “added
sugars” “as a single food ingredient with a parenthetical list [by descending
weight] of the specific ingredients that account for those sugars.” The
combined weight of these ingredients would also determine “where added
sugars rank on the food ingredients label.”

“Many in the sugar and food industry like to encourage personal responsibility
over government regulation of food and ingredients,” concludes the
coalition’s letter. “Without specific information on the amount of ‘added
sugars’ on the labels of food products, consumers can hardly exercise that
responsibility and make smarter choices in the grocery aisle.” See EWG Press
Release, February 23, 2012.