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Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

 

A petition by the Sugar Association asks the Food and Drug Administration to “require complete and accurate labeling” of low- and no-calorie sweeteners on food packages. The association says the move would extend labeling transparency, end misleading practices and help consumers make more informed decisions. The petition asks the FDA to require the term “Sweetener” in parentheses after the name of all non-nutritive sweeteners in the ingredient list. For children’s food and beverages, they ask the FDA to require indication of the type and quantity of non-nutritive sweeteners, in milligrams per serving, on the front of food packages. Research by the association found that, given a list of food additives, consumers correctly identified sweetening ingredients only 37 percent of the time. And, 66 percent of consumers say it’s important for sugar substitutes to be clearly identified as sweeteners on food labels. Sugar Association President and CEO Courtney Gaine says, “These changes are necessary to close a gap in food labeling,” adding they are also necessary to “provide consumers with complete transparency and accurate information.”

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