The Sugar Association appreciates the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to address obesity and dental caries around the world.

However, WHO’s “strong” recommendations regarding sugars intake are not backed by “strong” evidence, a fact acknowledged by the organization itself, albeit in small print. The report footnotes reveal that the quality of evidence supporting the recommendations is “moderate,” “low,” and “very low” and indicate the evidence proves a modest level of confidence, at best, that the recommendations will have the desired effect. This forces one to question how they derived these “strong” recommendations. Unfortunately, this is a documented pattern by WHO.

As we outlined in our filing with the WHO in March 2014, as well as in a letter to Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, in September 2014, the preponderance of science and the data on caloric sweeteners do not support the suggested limit on sugars intake.

Overlooked by WHO is the fact that other organizations have considered intake limits with different conclusions: a report by the U.S. Institute of Medicine proclaimed there was no conclusive evidence to justify establishing an intake limit for “added sugars.” The European Food Safety Authority reaffirmed the same conclusion in 2010. Both of these substantial reviews were totally ignored by the WHO, again bringing into question the scientific basis for this misguided Guideline on Sugars.

In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also determined that the science does not support a quantitative intake recommendation for “added sugars” in its Proposed Rule, Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, FDA-2010-N-1210.

This guideline misleads consumers by its use of poor-quality, weak and inconsistent data to link a level of sugars intake with reduced disease risk. Such a claim is serious, and requires high-quality data, particularly given the potential for consumer confusion and the likelihood that the economic impact to developing countries will be severe.

More Press Releases

Sugar Industry Celebrates Through Giving this National Real Sugar Day

October 12, 2023

Highlighting real people, real plants, and real community impact WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, October 14, the Sugar Association (SAI), along with the organization’s 15 members, will celebrate the people and the plants that make real sugar possible on the second annual National Real Sugar Day. Alongside its member companies, the Sugar Association founded National Real Sugar Day as […]

sugar-association logo

New Research Shows Consumers are Looking for Facts on Real Sugar

June 21, 2023

Closing the “sugar information gap” empowers consumers to achieve Real Sugar balance WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Sugar Association released research findings from a consumer survey demonstrating consumers remain interested in knowing where real sugar comes from and how much of it they can eat. “This survey confirms a growing trend of consumers are looking […]

sugar-association logo

Statement by the Sugar Association: USDA/International Dairy Foods Association Healthy School Milk Commitment

April 5, 2023

The Sugar Association (SAI) and its members are committed to helping Americans, including school aged children, achieve a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle through consuming all nutrients – including sugar – in the right amounts.

More Press Releases

Stay in Touch

Sign Up