Nutrition Labeling
Since there is nothing added to sugar, bags and boxes of sugar are exempt from bearing a grams of added sugars declaration.
Learn MoreCitizen Petition
“Consumers deserve to know what is in their food so they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families,” said Courtney Gaine, PhD, RD, President and CEO of the Sugar Association. “These changes by FDA will bring the complete transparency in sweetener labeling that we know consumers want, deserve and should expect.”
The Petition asks the FDA to require the following changes to food labeling by issuing official industry guidance supported by the Agency’s enforcement discretion:
- Add the term “Sweetener” in parentheses after the name of all non-nutritive sweeteners in the ingredient list.
- For children’s food and beverages, indicate the type and quantity of non-nutritive sweeteners, in milligrams per serving, on the front of food packages.
- For products making a sugar content claim (i.e. No/Low/Reduced Sugar), require the disclosure, “Sweetened with [name of Sweetener(s)]” beneath the claim.
- Disclose the potential gastrointestinal side effects from the consumption of sugar alcohols and some sugar substitutes in foods at the lowest observed effect levels.
- Ensure all sugar content claims related to sugar and sugar substitutes are truthful and non-misleading.
Link to Supplement to Petition
Press Releases
- September 22, 2022 – The Case is Clear – FDA Reform of Artificial Sweetener Labeling Requirements on Packaged Food is Long Overdue
- March 8, 2022 – New Evidence Submitted to FDA Supports Swift Action on Artificial Sweetener Labeling Reform; Labeling Rules Must Change to Corral Opaque System that Stymies Consumers
- September 22, 2021 – 10,000+ Consumers Join the Fight for Complete & Accurate Labeling of Artificial Sweeteners in Packaged Foods; FDA Must Act Now to Help Families Make Informed Decisions Regarding Sugar Substitutes
- July 14, 2020 – Consumer Group Letter to FDA Supports Growing Call for FDA Action on Alternative Sweetener Labeling Reform
- June 29, 2020 – Sugar Association Releases New Consumer Research Showing Consumers Want Additional Labeling Requirements For Sweeteners in Packaged Food
- June 3, 2020 – Sugar Association submits Citizen Petition to FDA
Fact Sheets
FAQ
- To download a pdf of the FAQ, click here.
- Q: What exactly are you asking the FDA to do?
A: We are asking the FDA to make it easier for consumers to know when alternative sweeteners are in their food and beverage products and help ensure that any sugar content claims are truthful and non-misleading. We’re also asking for clear labeling of low- and no-calorie sweeteners in children’s products. These changes will enable consumers to clearly see when sweeteners are used. - Q: Why is this being done now?
A: We view the requests in this Petition as items that should have been included by the FDA when updating the Nutrition Facts label in 2016. The asks are a natural extension of the FDA’s focus on transparency and improving consumer access to information.Additionally, given FDA’s new requirement to label added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label, there has been a sharp increase in the use of alternative sweeteners in packaged food, unbeknownst to many consumers. There has also been an increase in the marketing and use of sugar content claims with foods containing alternative sweeteners.
As it stands, we have an alternative sweetener labeling scheme that is incomplete, lacks transparency and is misleading and confusing to consumers. Our proposed changes will provide consumers with clear and accurate information about the use of low- and no- calorie sweeteners in consumer products and help them make more informed decisions for themselves and their families.
- Q: What would this mean for consumers?
A: If FDA were to implement these changes, it would mean that consumers could easily find accurate information about all the nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners used in their products, allowing them to make informed decisions when they shop. For parents, not only would the presence of sweeteners be disclosed on children’s products, but the quantity would be as well—something the American Academy of Pediatric called for in November 2019.1 - Q: What actions are expected and what is the timing?
A: We submitted the original Citizen Petition to FDA in June 2020. FDA responded in November 2020 acknowledging receipt of the Citizen Petition and stating the agency was not able to reach a decision given other agency priorities and resources.In March 2022, we submitted a Supplement to the original Citizen Petition presenting new supporting information and data.
Consumers, food companies and other interested parties can continue to provide comments to FDA in support of our request. Comments can be submitted to the docket, FDA-2020-P-1478. Once FDA has the opportunity to complete their review of the Petition and if changes are determined necessary, the agency will set a date when food and beverage manufacturers must comply with new labeling changes.
1. Baker-Smith CM, et al. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition. Pediatrics. 2019;144(5):e20192765.
News
- March 7, 2023 – Washington Post: How fake sugars sneak into foods and disrupt metabolic health
- September 23, 2022 – IHS Markit: Ahead of White House conference, Sugar Association pushes FDA for stricter labeling on sweeteners
- September 13, 2022 – Food Fix: The sugar industry wants FDA to add labels to artificial sweeteners
- July 21, 2022 – IHS Markit: WHO issues draft guidance advising not to use sweeteners to reduce sugar intake
- March 11, 2022 – The National Law Review: Sugar Association Files Supplemental Petition Urging Regulatory Changes for Artificially Sweetened Foods
- March 11, 2022 – The Fence Post: New evidence submitted to FDA supports swift action on artificial sweetener labeling reform
- March 9, 2022 – Mashed: Why New Nutrition Labels Have The Sugar Industry Seeing Red
- March 8, 2022 – Food Dive: Sugar Association updates its sweetener labeling petition after 2 years of regulatory inaction
- March 8, 2022 – Michigan Ag Today: New Evidence Submitted to FDA Supports Swift Action on Artificial Sweetener Labeling Reform
- March 8, 2022 – Alpha Ag Network: New Evidence Submitted to FDA Supports Swift Action on Artificial Sweetener Labeling Reform
- September 24, 2021 – The Fence Post: Consumers join the fight for complete and accurate labeling of artificial sweeteners in packaged foods
- April 08, 2021 – Food Dive: Fruit drink labeling is confusing to many parents, study finds
- March 23, 2020 – National Consumers League: National Consumers League releases its top 10 food and nutrition policy priorities for 2021
- November 20, 2020 – Sugar Producer: Consumers Urge Comprehensive Artificial Sweetener Labeling Reform
- October 21, 2020 – Eat This, Not That!: FDA Is Cracking Down on the Labeling of Alternative Sweeteners
- October 19, 2020 – Food Dive: FDA to examine labeling for some alternative sweeteners
- September 21, 2020 – Patient Worthy: Petition to FDA for More Transparency of Artificial Sweeteners on Food Labels
- September 3, 2020 – Food Quality & Safety: Industry Group Petitions FDA to Amend Labeling Rules for Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners
- July 21, 2020 – Farm Progress: Sweet nothings: Sugar industry fights misleading labels
- July 14, 2020 – Michigan Ag Today: Consumer Group Letter to FDA Supports Growing Call for Action on Alternative Sweetener Labeling Reform
- July 13, 2020 – Ingredients Network: Sugar Association files citizen petition calling for clearer labeling of sweeteners
- July 6, 2020 – Sugar Producer: Consumers want additional labeling requirements for sweeteners
- July 2, 2020 – Food Dive: Consumers want more labeling requirements for sweeteners, research shows
- June 30, 2020 – Food Business News: More sweetener labeling wanted, research shows
- June 8, 2020 – Capital Press: Sugar industry calls for stricter sweetener labeling
- June 5, 2020 – Food Processing: Sugar Association petitions FDA for synthetic sweetener labeling
- June 4, 2020 – The Fence Post: Sugar Association petitions FDA for labeling of low-, no-calorie sweeteners
- June 4, 2020 – Food Navigator: The Sugar Association files citizen petition asking FDA for ‘complete and accurate labeling’ of low- and no-calorie sweeteners
- June 4, 2020 – Food Business News: Sugar group petitions FDA on sweetener labeling
- June 4, 2020 – Food Dive: Sugar Association asks FDA to overhaul sweetener labeling rules
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