“In specific guidelines for certain age groups and subpopulations, the new DGA advise to “avoid added sugars during infancy and early childhood” (birth to 4 years) and say “no amount of added sugars is recommended” up to age 11. The DGA provide no evidence to support such extreme recommendations. In fact, the author of the only added sugars systematic review published in the DGA scientific foundations said that the recommendation for children to entirely avoid added sugars is not “realistic, sustainable or aligned with the strength of the evidence.” The systematic review found the only evidence of negative health outcomes associated with added sugars intake comes from sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, not from added sugars in food. “Nor do the DGA address the reality that when added sugars are removed from food, they are almost always replaced by industrial additives such as artificial sweeteners that aren’t clearly labeled and which large majorities of Americans prefer to avoid. It is simply not feasible for Americans to do as the DGA say – avoid both added sugars and nonnutritive sweeteners. The Sugar Association’s petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking transparent disclosure of artificial sweeteners on labels – publicly supported by approximately 28,000 Americans – has been ignored for more than six years.” “Sugar Association polling in 2025 found that 83% of “Make America Healthy Again” supporters believe real sugar is safer for adults than artificial sweeteners, and 89% believe it’s safer for children. Overall, 83% of Make America Healthy Again supporters prefer real sugar. Polling in 2020 found that only 14% of Americans want to reduce their added sugar intake using artificial sweeteners, and 73% of parents want to know the amount of low- and no-calorie sweeteners in their children’s food.” “Americans deserve sound nutrition advice, not unsubstantiated, unscientific rhetoric about real sugar – which is real food and comes from real plants. That’s why the Sugar Association remains committed to evidence-based communication about how moderate amounts of real sugar can fit in healthy diets and balanced lifestyles.”
Read the full article here: https://www.agproud.com/articles/63109-the-new-dietary-guidelines-and-the-trump-administrations-war-on-real-sugar
