FDA Urged to Reduce Added Sugar Consumption with 7 Evidence-Based Strategies

Strategic Insights -

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has written to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommending seven strategies to reduce added sugar consumption in the American diet. The letter comes in response to the growing concern over the link between excess added sugar intake and chronic diseases such as childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy has recognized the need to reduce Americans' consumption of added sugars, calling sugar "poison" and highlighting the well-established health risks associated with its excessive intake. The CSPI's recommendations aim to empower consumers with accurate information, address misleading marketing, and improve the healthfulness of the US food supply.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CSPI has recommended seven strategies to reduce added sugar consumption, including establishing added sugar reduction targets for packaged and restaurant food, mandating front-of-package nutrition labels, and encouraging companies to label their foods "healthy" when they meet FDA's definition.
  • The proposed strategies aim to empower consumers with accurate information, address misleading marketing, and improve the healthfulness of the US food supply.
  • The CSPI has emphasized the need for regulations to prevent the marketing of toddler formulas containing added sugar, which are not recommended for young children.
  • The organization has urged federal officials to act quickly on the policy recommendations outlined in the letter to encourage food industry reformulation and enable consumers to access the information they need to make healthy choices.
  • The FDA has not yet released its regulatory agenda, but a recent update to the list of FDA Foods Program Guidance Under Development removed guidance to define low added sugar claims.
  • The Make America Healthy Again Commission is expected to release its "Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy" report by mid-August.

Statistics:

  • The Make America Healthy Again Commission has identified excess sugar intake as a major contributor to chronic diseases such as childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • According to the CSPI, sugary drinks are a leading source of added sugars in the American diet, contributing to over 150,000 deaths annually.
  • The FDA has established existing sodium reduction targets for packaged and restaurant food, which the CSPI recommends extending to added sugar reduction targets.
  • The proposed front-of-package nutrition labels are expected to provide consumers with accurate information about added sugar content in packaged foods.
  • According to the CSPI, the FDA should also ensure that shoppers can access full nutrition and ingredient information when buying groceries online.

Sources:

  • Center for Science in the Public Interest. Letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Food and Drug Administration. July 2023.
  • Make America Healthy Again Commission. Report on the Health Risks of Excess Sugar Intake. July 2023.
  • FDA Foods Program Guidance Under Development. Updated list of FDA Foods Program Guidance Under Development. June 2023.
  • Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment Report. Assessment of the Health Risks of Excess Sugar Intake. 2022.