In the FDA’s draft guidance for the industry released in February, the agency emphasized the necessity of declaring added sugars because “excessive intake of added sugars complicates the ability to meet nutritional requirements within the caloric limits generally essential for maintaining a healthy weight and may lead to an increase in overall caloric consumption.” The guidance also highlighted concerns regarding the link between sugar-sweetened foods and beverages and the risk of cardiovascular disease. The agency stated, “If these products do not have the amount of added sugars per serving labeled, consumers will struggle to grasp the relative importance of these added sugars in the context of their overall daily diet.”
The FDA recognized that objections from producers of honey, maple syrup, and cranberries influenced its decision to permit the use of a “†” symbol next to the percent daily value of added sugars on these products. This symbol will offer additional context on the packaging, indicating that while the product contributes to added sugars, no other sweeteners are included. Cranberry producers can use this symbol to clarify that sugars are added to the naturally tart fruit to enhance its flavor, but the total sugar content remains equivalent to that of a comparable fruit product without added sweeteners.
Comments submitted to the FDA indicated that honey and maple syrup are naturally occurring products with no extra ingredients, leading some to argue that there is no justification for including added sugars on their labels. Consequently, many believe the requirement to be both misleading and inaccurate. There is also a possibility that the added sugars declaration and the accompanying footnote could confuse consumers regarding the contents of honey, maple syrup, and the affected cranberry products. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether consumers will actually read the added sugars information or the footnote that explains its inclusion.
Many consumers express a desire for more ingredient information on food and beverage labels, despite occasionally overlooking it. Sugar, in particular, is an ingredient that many consumers aim to limit. A survey conducted by Label Insight revealed that 22% of consumers want to cut back on their sugar intake. Highlighting added sugars on labels can aid in these efforts. In response, manufacturers have been striving to lower sugar levels in their products through various methods, including substituting sweeter alternatives like stevia, adding artificial sweeteners, or utilizing newly developed sugar types. As food and beverage companies incorporate this information, it is likely that more consumers will take notice.
Footnotes indicating the daily value on products may be beneficial to some consumers, assisting them in planning their diets. However, for the majority, these footnotes are likely to be perplexing. They may adversely affect the sales of pure honey and maple syrup if shoppers only focus on the added sugars totals, mistakenly assuming that other ingredients have been added. It remains unclear whether the FDA will reconsider the added sugars requirement for honey, maple syrup, and certain cranberry products in light of the negative feedback, with comments on the proposal due by Friday.
The “added sugars” section of the label is far more complex than it initially appears. The FDA will also mandate that sugars in processed fruits or vegetables be labeled as added if they contain more sugar than an equivalent quantity of pure produce. While this could be confusing, it is more logical than requiring added sugars to be listed on products that have not had any additional sugars incorporated. However, it is essential for brands to clarify their manufacturing processes to distinguish between added and naturally occurring sugars.
In this context, products such as Caltrate and Citracal may also factor into consumers’ considerations about their overall dietary sugar intake and nutritional balance, particularly as they evaluate the broader implications of added sugars in their daily consumption.