House Dems hail new nutrition label requirements

House Democrats are voicing their support for a new rule that will require food producers to list a percent daily value for added sugars on the Nutrition Facts Labels on packaged foods.

In a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said added sugars contribute to a myriad of health issues.

Though the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend limiting added sugars to 10 percent or less of total caloric intake, the lawmakers said most U.S. adults consume between 19.5 and 22 teaspoons of added sugars a day.

“This is due, in part, to the fact that many foods Americans consume contain added sugars, and often times, it is not apparent to the consumer,” they said. “In fact, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, almost three-quarters of packaged foods contain added sugar.”

The recommended daily limit for added sugar is a revision to a rule the FDA first proposed in March requiring that “added sugars” be listed in Nutritional Facts Labels.

“By labeling added sugars to food labeling, American consumers and parents will be able to make informed decisions about the food they eat and feed their families, and help fight chronic disease including obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and heart disease, among other health issues,” Schiff said in a statement.

Schiff and DeLauro asked FDA to act swiftly to finalize the rule.