The FDA would like Americans to know more about the sugar added to their foods: A recent press release details a proposed change that would require Nutrition Facts labels to show the percent daily value (% DV) of added sugars (which doesn’t include natural sugars, like those found in fruit) in packaged foods. The percent daily value indicates how much a nutrient in one serving of food contributes to a 2,000 calorie daily diet. The new percent daily value would be based on the recommendation that no more than 10% of total daily calories come from added sugars, which equals a maximum of:

• 50 grams per day for adults, and children ages four and older, and
• 25 grams per day for children between the ages of one and three.

These recommendations are based in part on data from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (an independent advisory committee) that indicate it’s difficult to meet daily nutrient requirements if calories from sugar exceed 10% of total daily caloric intake. For reference, the total added sugar in one 20-ounce bottle of sugar-sweetened soda is 66 grams—for an adult that’s 132% of their daily value for added sugars! Considering that, on average, Americans get 16% of their daily calories from added sugars, the FDA hopes that putting this type of information on the Nutrition Facts label will help consumers make healthier choices for themselves and their families.

Source: FDA