“In specific guidelines for certain age groups and subpopulations, the new DGA advise to “avoid added sugars during infancy and early childhood” (birth to 4 years) and say “no amount of added sugars is recommended” up to age 11. The DGA provide no evidence to support such extreme recommendations. In fact, the author of the only added sugars systematic review published in the DGA scientific foundations said that the recommendation for children to entirely avoid added sugars is not “realistic, sustainable or aligned with the strength of the evidence.” The systematic review found the only evidence of negative health outcomes associated with added sugars intake comes from sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, not from added sugars in food. “Nor do the DGA address the reality that when added sugars are removed from food, they are almost always replaced by industrial additives such as artificial sweeteners that aren’t clearly labeled and which large majorities of Americans prefer to avoid. It is simply not feasible for Americans to do as the DGA say – avoid both added sugars and nonnutritive sweeteners. The Sugar Association’s petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking transparent disclosure of artificial sweeteners on labels – publicly supported by approximately 28,000 Americans – has been ignored for more than six years.” “Sugar Association polling in 2025 found that 83% of “Make America Healthy Again” supporters believe real sugar is safer for adults than artificial sweeteners, and 89% believe it’s safer for children. Overall, 83% of Make America Healthy Again supporters prefer real sugar. Polling in 2020 found that only 14% of Americans want to reduce their added sugar intake using artificial sweeteners, and 73% of parents want to know the amount of low- and no-calorie sweeteners in their children’s food.” “Americans deserve sound nutrition advice, not unsubstantiated, unscientific rhetoric about real sugar – which is real food and comes from real plants. That’s why the Sugar Association remains committed to evidence-based communication about how moderate amounts of real sugar can fit in healthy diets and balanced lifestyles.”
Read the full article here: https://www.agproud.com/articles/63109-the-new-dietary-guidelines-and-the-trump-administrations-war-on-real-sugar
March 22, 2026
"The Feeding the Economy report affirms the vital role food and agriculture play in our nation’s economic resilience and food security. Commercial bakers have long been proud partners to American agriculture, sourcing 85 percent of their core ingredients from domestic farmers....Sponsoring organizations from the food and agriculture industries, who helped make the 2026 study possible, provided commentary on this year’s findings. The full list of sponsoring organizations includes: ...The Sugar Association"
March 10, 2026
"Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the Sugar Association, a scientific body that supports the U.S. sugar industry, told the USDA Outlook Forum that the school meal standards taking effect next year might prohibit added sugars in kindergarten meals and could significantly restrict them in other grades. That change alone would cut sugar demand by over 130,000 short tons. The industry faces additional pressure from rising GLP-1 weight-loss drug usage, which jumped from 12% in May 2024 to 18% in November 2025, though Gaine cautioned it remains "premature to assess the impact."
March 3, 2026
"Gaine added, "There is no data to support all this." She said the focus on added sugar is often politically motivated, but food groups have not pushed back on the MAHA pressure. There is a lot of fear of retaliation, and for good reason they have not wanted to push back publicly," Gaine said. "I think it’s going to demand a coordinated, really coordinated, pushing back. Any effort up (until) now has been to go along to get along, and I don’t know if that’s going to work."
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