Citizen Petition

“Consumers deserve to know what is in their food so they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families,” said Courtney Gaine, PhD, RD, President and CEO of the Sugar Association.  “These changes by FDA will bring the complete transparency in sweetener labeling that we know consumers want, deserve and should expect.”

The Petition asks the FDA to require the following changes to food labeling by issuing official industry guidance supported by the Agency’s enforcement discretion:

1. Add the term “Sweetener” in parentheses after the name of all non-nutritive sweeteners in the ingredient list.
2. For children’s food and beverages, indicate the type and quantity of non-nutritive sweeteners, in milligrams per serving, on the front of food packages.
3. For products making a sugar content claim (i.e. No/Low/Reduced Sugar), require the disclosure, “Sweetened with [name of Sweetener(s)]” beneath the claim.
4. Disclose the potential gastrointestinal side effects from the consumption of sugar alcohols and some sugar substitutes in foods at the lowest observed effect levels.
5. Ensure all sugar content claims related to sugar and sugar substitutes are truthful and non-misleading.

Link to FDA Citizen Petition

Link to Petition Docket

Press Releases

• November 19, 2020 – More than 1,500 Consumers Urge FDA to Enact Comprehensive Artificial Sweetener Labeling Reform
• July 14, 2020 – Consumer Group Letter to FDA Supports Growing Call for FDA Action on Alternative Sweetener Labeling Reform
• June 29, 2020 – Sugar Association Releases New Consumer Research Showing Consumers Want Additional Labeling Requirements For Sweeteners in Packaged Food
• June 3, 2020 – Sugar Association submits Citizen Petition to FDA

Fact Sheets

• Campaign Overview
• Link to Fact Sheet

Consumer Research

• June 2020 Full Consumer Research Findings
• Sweetener Transparency Study Infograph
• May 2020 Preliminary Consumer Findings

FAQ

Link to FAQ

News

• April 08, 2021 – Fruit drink labeling is confusing to many parents, study finds
• March 23, 2020 – National Consumers League releases its top 10 food and nutrition policy priorities for 2021
• November 20, 2020 – Consumers Urge Comprehensive Artificial Sweetener Labeling Reform
• October 21, 2020 – FDA Is Cracking Down on the Labeling of Alternative Sweeteners
• October 19, 2020 – FDA to examine labeling for some alternative sweeteners
• September 28, 2020 – Additives found in cold cuts, ice cream, bread, other processed food cause concern
• September 21, 2020 – Petition to FDA for More Transparency of Artificial Sweeteners on Food Labels
• September 3, 2020 – Industry Group Petitions FDA to Amend Labeling Rules for Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners
• July 21, 2020 – Sweet nothings: Sugar industry fights misleading labels
• July 14, 2020 – Consumer Group Letter to FDA Supports Growing Call for Action on Alternative Sweetener Labeling Reform
• July 13, 2020 – Sugar Association files citizen petition calling for clearer labeling of sweeteners
• July 6, 2020 – Consumers want additional labeling requirements for sweeteners
• July 2, 2020 – Consumers want more labeling requirements for sweeteners, research shows
• June 30, 2020 – More sweetener labeling wanted, research shows
• June 8, 2020 – Capital Press: Sugar industry calls for stricter sweetener labeling
• June 5, 2020 – Food Processing: Sugar Association petitions FDA for synthetic sweetener labeling
• June 4, 2020 – The Fence Post: Sugar Association petitions FDA for labeling of low-, no-calorie sweeteners
• June 4, 2020 – Food Navigator: The Sugar Association files citizen petition asking FDA for ‘complete and accurate labeling’ of low- and no-calorie sweeteners
• June 4, 2020 – Food Business News: Sugar group petitions FDA on sweetener labeling
• June 4, 2020 – Food Dive: Sugar Association asks FDA to overhaul sweetener labeling rules

Product Examples

Other Resources

• Sugar vs. Sugar
• Nutrition Labeling
• Sweeteners you might find in your food
• Making Sense of ADDED SUGARS on the New Nutrition Facts Label
• Sugar Reformulation