Jennifer L. Pomeranz, “The Bittersweet Truth About Sugar Labeling Regulations: They Are Achievable and Overdue,” American Journal of Public Health, May 17, 2012

“There are no longer any viable reasons to maintain outdated nutrition
labeling standards for sugar,” opines Jennifer Pomeranz, director of legal
initiatives at Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, in
this article urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise sugar
labeling regulations to better inform and protect consumers.

Citing recent developments such as recommendations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Heart Association to limit sugar consumption, “new and robust” science suggesting high-sugar intake is detrimental to human health, and the Institute of Medicine’s call for front-of-packaging labeling for sugar, Pomeranz maintains that FDA’s reluctance to require manufacturers to disclose sugar and added sugar is based on old science and obsolete concerns.

“The need for more information relevant to sugar on food labels is long
overdue,” she writes. “The government can currently require more information
pertinent to total sugar consistent with the public health literature and
scientific methods necessary for enforcement.” She also asserts that revised
labeling requirements could “lead to innovation and positive reformulation,”
spurring competition among companies to create products with less added
sugar.