Consumer Group Letter to FDA Supports Growing Call for Action on Alternative Sweetener Labeling Reform

July 14, 2020

“The Sugar Association applauds consumer and healthcare organizations that have reached out to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to ask that the agency require complete transparency for the labeling of low- and no-calorie sweeteners, as well as put an end to misleading sugar claims for packaged food and beverage products.

The National Consumers League (NCL) recently wrote a letter to the FDA supporting the Sugar Association’s June 3^rd FDA Citizen Petition asking the FDA to use its administrative and enforcement authority to enact sweeping alternative sweetener labeling reform.

“NCL is a leading voice for transparency in food labeling and has a strong history of consumer advocacy in support of the labeling of sugar substitutes,” said Courtney Gaine, PhD, RD, President and CEO of the Sugar Association. “Their comments to FDA make the case for mandating changes to alternative sweetener labeling that improves transparency and puts an end to incomplete and misleading labeling standards.”

In its letter to FDA supporting the Petition, NCL also states, “FDA has received a letter from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) requesting that the agency set standards for nutrient content claims for added sugars. The citizens’ petition builds on that request by urging FDA to provide clearer ingredient labeling of alternative sweeteners and by requiring disclosures of potential negative health effects of sugar alcohols and the amounts of artificial sweeteners in foods and beverages.”

Read the full article at: https://www.michiganagtoday.com/consumer-group-letter-to-fda-supports-growing-call-for-action-on-alternative-sweetener-labeling-reform/