AMA supports added sugar labeling
June 10, 2014 | 05:57 PM
CHICAGO — The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates today endorsed the Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to include added sugars on nutrition labels.
The AMA House of Delegates is a policy-making group of physicians, medical students and residents representing every state and medical field.
“If adopted, the FDA’s revised labels will denote the amount of naturally occurring sugar levels in foods and beverages versus the amount of sugar that has been added to the product,” the group said.
“According to the FDA, on average, Americans get 16 percent of their total calories from added sugars that provide no nutrient value, and are often referred to as ‘empty calories.’ ” the group said.
“A recent JAMA study also found that a majority of U.S. adults consume more added sugar than recommended for a healthy diet. The AMA is also encouraging the FDA to establish a recommended daily value for added sugars that will appear on the new labels. Additionally, the policy calls for further study on the addictive nature of sugars.”
"Sugar consumption has been linked to some of the nation's most debilitating diseases, and better labeling of sugar in food aligns with the AMA's strategic initiative to improve health outcomes by curbing the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said AMA Board Member Georgia Tuttle, a physician.
The AMA House of Delegates is a policy-making group of physicians, medical students and residents representing every state and medical field.
“If adopted, the FDA’s revised labels will denote the amount of naturally occurring sugar levels in foods and beverages versus the amount of sugar that has been added to the product,” the group said.
“According to the FDA, on average, Americans get 16 percent of their total calories from added sugars that provide no nutrient value, and are often referred to as ‘empty calories.’ ” the group said.
“A recent JAMA study also found that a majority of U.S. adults consume more added sugar than recommended for a healthy diet. The AMA is also encouraging the FDA to establish a recommended daily value for added sugars that will appear on the new labels. Additionally, the policy calls for further study on the addictive nature of sugars.”
"Sugar consumption has been linked to some of the nation's most debilitating diseases, and better labeling of sugar in food aligns with the AMA's strategic initiative to improve health outcomes by curbing the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said AMA Board Member Georgia Tuttle, a physician.
