FDA recommends cap on daily sugar intake

The Federal Drug Administration is recommending a daily limit on sugar for the first time.

According to the proposed guidelines, sugar consumption should only make up 10 percent of daily caloric intake. 

However, not everyone agrees with the new requirements, which were published in the New York Times.

Critics from the food industry said they are concerned shoppers could misunderstand the sugar cap and the new label requirements.

A study published in the June issue of The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reported Americans miscalculated the percentage of sugar in products labeled "added sugars," lowering their chances of buying them.

The FDA has said new labels will make it easier for consumers to recognize differences between the amounts of natural sugar and added sugar.

The 10 percent cap is based off several different eating habits including American, Mediterranean and vegetarian diets and the amount of calories remaining once a person receives the nutrients he or she needs, said Dr. Susan Krebs-Smith, the chief of the risk factors assessment branch at the National Cancer Institute. 


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Anchor on The Morning Show team and reporter specializing on health issues.