FDA proposes nutrition labels display daily value for added sugars

Today, the FDA proposed adding the percent daily value for added sugars onto the nutrition labels of packaged foods, according to a press release.

The percent daily value for added sugars would be calculated using the basis that daily caloric intake of added sugars not exceed 10% of total calories consumed, according to the release.

Currently, the percent daily values for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, calcium and iron are all required to be on packaged food nutrition labels.

When an individual consumes more than 10% of their daily caloric intake from added sugars, it becomes hard to meet the body’s nutrient needs while staying within the recommended calorie requirements, according to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The FDA used this data, as well as the DGAC’s recommendation for limiting added sugar intake to less than 10% of total calories, when developing the new proposal.

The FDA has also cited recently published data on sugar-sweetened food and beverages and CVD risk, as further reason to include daily sugar values on labels.

In addition to the added nutrition label information, the FDA has proposed altering the label’s footnote to read:

“The percent daily value (%DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”

According to the release, the new footnote wording would free up space on nutrition labels.

Public comment on the proposal will be accepted for 75 days, and will be reviewed and considered as the FDA makes its final decision. Additionally, the FDA is seeking public comment on the March 2014 proposed policy regarding label formats.

“The FDA has a responsibility to give consumers the information they need to make informed dietary decisions for themselves and their families. For the past decade, consumers have been advised to reduce their intake of added sugars, and the proposed percent daily value for added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label is intended to help consumers follow that advice,” Susan Mayne, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in the release.