WHO issues draft guidance advising not to use sweeteners to reduce sugar intake

“The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a proposed guidance , advising consumers not to use non-sugar sweeteners as means to reduce sugar intake.

While the guidance is still under consideration and the WHO is now collecting comments from stakeholders, the document has already caused a stir in the food and beverage industry, pitting proponents of sweeteners against their critics.”

Courtney Gaine, PhD, RD, President and CEO of the Sugar Association, was quoted in the article, ““[W}hile added sugars consumption has declined by 30% since 2000, the number of products that contain at least one non-nutritive sweetener has increased by 300% in the last five years alone.”

Still, the Sugar Association has raised concerns similar to those in the WHO report about the increased prominence and consumption of non-sugar sweeteners. The industry group has been pushing for changes in FDA labeling for sweeteners , which the Sugar Association says is “archaic, outdated, and keeps consumers in the dark about these ingredients.”

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