Front-of-pack food labeling gets focus ahead of White House conference

The idea of requiring nutrition labels on the front of food packages to disclose sugar and fat content is getting increased attention ahead of the first White House conference in more than half a century on hunger and nutrition policy.

An official task force report informing the conference has included front-of-package nutrition labels in its recommended policy actions. “It would be really silly not to take what was in those recommendations very, very seriously,” said Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the Sugar Association.

The report specifically calls upon the Food and Drug Administration to “develop an effective front-of-package (FOP) labeling scheme that uses or is based on a transparent, uniform, and science-based nutrient profiling system or specific nutritional parameters.”

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History Lesson: Taking a look at historical trends in sugar consumption

Although not widely talked about by the media, a significant dietary trend has been taking place. Over the past 20 years, added sugars consumption has been on a steep decline. In terms of teaspoons, added sugars intake has decreased by nearly 25 percent since 2000, dropping from 21 to 16.1 teaspoons per day.

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Sugar growers fear loss of school sales

Government food programs including school meals are supposed to follow the dietary guidelines, and if the new guidelines announced earlier in January are followed that could mean a reduction of between 60 million and 250 million pounds of sugar for school meals each year, said Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of The Sugar Association.

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