A tug-of-war is going on in Washington over how much manufacturers should be required to reveal about the added sugar content of their products.
U.S. food regulators say the public should be informed about how much sweetener has been added to food items, Reuters reported. Companies such as the Campbell Soup Company disagree, claiming making a distinction between naturally-occurring and added sugars will only cause confusion. Current labeling laws only require manufacturers to list total sugar content.
This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will start the process of reviewing thousands of public comments on new labeling recommendations. The action was spurred by an attempt by U.S. regulators to address sugar-related obesity. The American public has also called for more transparency in the food
"There's been an increasing drum beat on the part of public health advocates to give consumers that information," Michael Jacobson, the head of nonprofit food advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest said, Reuters reported.
Government data suggests sugar consumption has been declining in the U.S., but it is still above healthy standards. Some nutrition experts say added sugars are a greater contributor to obesity than natural ones.
"Sugar is sugar, regardless of the source," Campbell Soup Company, wrote in a letter to the FDA, Reuters reported.
"Giving consumers a false impression that reducing added sugars without reducing calories may actually delay finding a real solution the problem" of obesity, Lisa J. Thorsten, the company's director of regulatory affairs and nutrition, wrote.
Some also doubt the effectiveness of "facts panel," citing only about half of Americans actually read nutrition fact panels.
"The people who read labels are the people who are already watching their health and their weight. This isn't going to cause a dramatic change," said Baylen Linnekin, head of nonprofit Keep Food Legal, Reuters reported.
