PharmaCentra Highlights Changes to the FDA’s Nutrition Facts Label

Employee ‘Lunch and Learn’ instructs on the FDA’s newest Nutrition Facts Panel

Americus, Georgia — September 15th, 2018

PharmaCentra’s most recent ‘Lunch and Learn’ focused on reading, and comprehending the FDA’s new Nutrition Facts Panel with a special focus on the ‘Added Sugars’ percentage in the labeling. Mitzi Parker of the Sumter County Extension of the University of Georgia presented the lecture on how to optimize healthy choices by understanding the food industry’s labeling process.

Per the FDA, scientific data shows 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 sugar, and this is consistent with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. So, ‘Added Sugars’ now underscores ‘Total Sugars’ on the new label. This, among other changes, are to be complied by all manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales by January 1st, 2020, an extension from the original 2018 date.

Sugars are naturally present in certain foods, such as fruit, dairy products, and some vegetables. ‘Added Sugars’ are sugars that are added to food or drinks during processing or at home. ‘Added Sugars’ are empty calories because they provide little to no nutritional benefit from vitamins or minerals, and lead to diabetes and obesity.

The FDA’s new Nutrition Facts Label will tell how much added sugars are in a product to avoid getting too many calories from sugar. As we’ve heard ad nauseum, avoid sugar sweetened drinks, cookies, candy, cake and ice cream. Other names for ‘Added Sugars’ to be aware of include: raw sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, nectar, honey, maltose, invert sugar, dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, powdered sugar, and high fructose corn syrup.

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PharmaCentra Contact
Kim Christmas
PharmaCentra VP of Human Resources and Community Relations
(886) 395-0088
kchristmas@pharmacentra.com