Tuesday, July 28, 2015

New FDA Sugar Labeling Proposal Met with Resistance by Sugar Association

The new 2015 dietary guidelines are full of surprises.  One unexpected recommendation includes caffeine is officially approved for adults: the new recommendations allow healthy adults to have 3-5 cups of coffee daily.  Cholesterol is no longer considered to be evil, but it is recommended that we stay within the new 300 milligram count. (1)
sugar

New sugar labeling proposal will require packaged food to label percentage of sugar for daily values

The new recommendations finally challenge America to watch its sugar intake. Proposed is the amount of sugar in each product be accurately recorded, allowing Americans to make better decisions. (2) In the 1970s 
Another new proposal announced on July 24, 2015 is meant to be a supplement to the already proposed rule regarding sugar labeling on pre-packaged foods.  The original proposal did not direct companies to state the percent daily value for sugar. (2)
The new FDA guidelines recommend that Americans should limit their sugar to 10 percent of total daily calories(!).  The committee reported that it may be difficult for consumers to meet nutrient requirements while staying within recommendations for sugar consumption.  The committee hopes that putting the percentage for daily values on labels will make it easier for consumers to make informed and health conscious decisions. (2)
The public has 75 days to respond to the new proposal. The Sugar Association offered their feedback, saying they believe that the FDA is making assertions about added sugars without sufficient scientific evidence, and plan to submit a detailed comment to oppose the proposal and provide evidence as to why the recommendation is misguided.(2)

Limiting sugar may help consumers improve their liver health, decrease type II diabetes, and reduce cancer rates

The link between sugar and diverse health issues has been well documented.  Research shows that when fructose is turned into fat in the liver, this can lead to fat being lodged in the liver and result in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.  Research also shows a direct connection between sugar and insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes. Cancer is one of the leading deaths worldwide. Insulin is the key hormone that regulates growth of cancer cells.  Having elevated insulin levels has been found to contribute to cancer. (3) It is clear that sugar is at the core of chronic health issues.
It would appear that the FDA would have sufficient evidence to support how artificial sugars could be damaging to our health.  The new labels may help consumers understand better exactly how much sugar they are consuming in processed food items. The body needs only 1 tablespoon of sugar per day to perform all of its functions. Any more than this sets off the insulin reaction and starts cravings for more. Sugar is a highly addictive substance and should be avoided.
Sources for this article include:
(1) www.webmd.com
(2) thehill.com
(3) authoritynutrition.com

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