The American shift toward healthier eating continues to focus on added sugars, specifically sucrose, fructose, glucose and other full-calorie mono-and disaccharides. According to Nielsen IQ data compiled exclusively for a 2021 presentation by the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, two-thirds of US consumers (67%) prioritize “avoiding negatives” in choosing healthier food products, with “low sugar” and “no added sugar” claims topping the list.
The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends “limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories per day.” And while there are no FDA limits currently imposed on added sugars, since 2021, labels must clearly state them in detail, in both gram amounts per serving and as a percent Daily Value.