Certain public comments to the 1990 proposed rule that mandated nutrition labeling for most foods favored requiring a declaration for added sugars rather than total sugars. Some comments proposed requiring both. At the time, FDA determined such a requirement was not necessary, nor was it feasible to differentiate between added and naturally occurring sugars in most foods.
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) report recommended a reduction of added sugar in the American diet, due to a strong correlation between low sugar intake and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. The DGAC report contributed to FDA’s reconsideration of its previous determination, and the Agency cited this data to rationalize the added sugars declaration in its 2016 final rule.
The added sugars declaration is just one requirement in two comprehensive new food labeling rules, which issue changes to daily values, serving sizes, and more. Businesses averaging $10,000,000 or more in annual food sales have less than two years (January 1, 2020) to comply. Businesses averaging less than $10,000,000 in annual food sales have an additional year.
Updating your label to meet new requirements can be a lengthy process. We urge companies to transition now to ensure compliance before the deadline.
