“The US Department of Agriculture is seeking to reduce the added sugars and further reduce the sodium formulated into school meals, according to a final rule published April 24 in the Federal Register. The agency is planning to implement a two-phase approach to lowering added sugars levels. Phase 1 will target the added sugar content of specific products and phase 2 will establish weekly limits.
“Schools have many ways to reduce the amounts of added sugars in their menus, such as using fruit as a sweetener in recipes and reducing the frequency of high-sugar items offered during the week,” according to the USDA.
“As we have repeatedly made clear, the Sugar Association supports the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendation to limit added sugars to 10% of total calories, as part of healthy dietary patterns,” said Courtney Gaine, president and chief executive officer of the Sugar Association. “While limiting added sugars to 10% of each week’s school meals menu is consistent with the DGA, applying arbitrary sugar limits to individual products like cereals and flavored dairy is certainly not.””
Read the full article here: https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/25959-new-school-meal-standards-take-aim-at-added-sugars
October 29, 2025
“Food and agriculture groups say the Trump administration’s attempt to define “ultraprocessed” foods and reduce their consumption isn’t justified by the science and could sweep up healthful foods like yogurt and whole grain foods. In formal comments filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the groups note there’s a lack of scientific consensus on […]
October 15, 2025
“The Sugar Association is recognizing National Real Sugar Day (October 15) by spotlighting the origins and functions of real sugar in food production. Established in 2022, the annual observance highlights the agricultural roots of sugar cane and sugar beets grown across the U.S., and the ingredient’s role in supporting local economies and food manufacturing. “We […]
August 11, 2025
“International Confectionery magazine is proud to announce that Courtney Gaine, Ph.D., R.D., President and CEO of the Sugar Association (Washington, D.C.), has been appointed as a judge for the International Confectionery Awards, one of the industry’s most respected celebrations of excellence and innovation in confectionery. Dr. Gaine has led the Sugar Association since January 2016, […]
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