Sugar Producer

20 SUGAR PRODUCER | MAY 2022 Supporting Consumers' Call for Transparency In June 2020, the Sugar Association submitted a Citizen Petition to the FDA asking for sweeping changes to the labeling requirements for alternative sweeteners to improve transparency and help consumers make more informed choices. Since then, the FDA docket for the petition has received over 200 public comments, including many from health professionals and concerned parents, and more than 15,000 consumers have signed an online petition at www. change.org supporting the effort. The Sugar Association's Citizen Petition specifically asks FDA to: The use of artificial sweeteners in the food supply has drastically increased over the past 25 years, but the FDA's labeling requirements have not kept up with this changing food supply. With current regulations, consumers have a tough time figuring out what alternative sweeteners are in their foods. Consumer research indicates that while 76% of consumers want to know if their food contains sugar substitutes, fewer than 40% are able to correctly identify them on a package's ingredient lists. And now, more and more individuals are letting the FDA know this is an important issue that requires the agency's attention. Not Faking It Push for alternative sweetener labeling reform picks up steam FROM THE SUGAR ASSOCIATION By Courtney Gaine, R.D., Ph.D., President & CEO Consumers deserve clear labeling of artificial sweeteners so they can make informed food purchasing decisions. In March of this year, the Sugar Association sent new evidence to the FDA to support the need for sugar substitute labeling reform and highlight the urgency for these changes to take place. Like many products Pop Secret Kettle Corn claims "no artificial…" but is made with the artificial sweetener sucralose.

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