Sugar Producer

January 2020

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www.SugarProducer.com 19 Making Beet Harvest Easier & Eliminating Your Down Time Heavy Tube Frame Construction 1/2" Plastic Wear Slides 42", 52" or 64" Belted Chain For Faster Unloading Easy Access Doors At Front and Back of Cart Many More Options to Chose From!!! Call Valley Beet Service At 701-642-1181 To Order Your Cart Today THIS HARVEST with a BEAT THE CL CK 2372-2ValleyBeetServices12h.indd 1 4/9/19 2:26 PM Requirements for all other nutrients on the label are based on a direct link between the nutrient and a health outcome. But that's not the case for added sugars. The decision was based on the concept that it is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits if you consume more than 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugars. This FDA decision was based on the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation. It will be important that consumers are aware that the 10 percent daily value is not an upper level, and that consuming more than this will not result in adverse health consequences. The hope is that this information serves as a tool for consumers to construct diets that meet nutrient needs within caloric allowance. The FDA recognizes that added sugars can be a part of a healthy dietary pattern. But if consumed in excess, it becomes more difficult to also eat foods with enough dietary fiber and essential vitamins and minerals and still stay within calorie limits. Consequences of the New Label Now that a daily value has been established for added sugars, foods will be considered "high" (more than 20 percent of DV, or 10 grams/serving) or "low" (more than 5 percent—2.5 grams/ serving) in added sugars, based on the regulations. With this heightened focus on added sugars, some companies are reformulating with the motivation/ pressure to stay below 20 percent daily value. Reformulation is not a simple task given ingredient functionality, like that of real sugar, rarely involves a simple ingredient swap. Efforts to reduce sugar content without sacrificing taste will inevitably result in increased prevalence of sugar substitutes in the food supply, which is not necessarily desired by consumers. For example, studies indicate that 44 percent of consumers report they look to avoid artificial sweeteners when purchasing food products. Additionally, greater visibility of added sugars will cause some consumers to focus on the added sugars line and not the rest of the nutrient package, potentially choosing less nutritious foods that may be greater in added sugars. On the other hand, some consumers may pay more attention to the ingredient list to see what sweeteners are in the product as they try to figure out why a sweet food has no added sugars. It will take a few years to fully understand the impact of the new label. Using the Label The goal of the first label 25 years ago was to improve the health of Americans. That did not happen. If the updated label and its new information are to be more impactful, consumer education is critical. While most consumers can find the label, understanding and knowing how to use the information on the Nutrition Facts Label is another thing. Nearly half of consumers consider themselves to be "not informed at all about the product" even after reading the product's label. There is a need for education on what the information means and what it doesn't mean. Consumers need to be able to use that information to make informed and balanced decisions about how each food and beverage fits into an entire day's intake, and not just focus on what is in one product. n

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