Back in August, CSPI petitioned FDA to develop labels that would alert consumers when a food is high in sodium, added sugars, or saturated fat and list the number of calories more prominently. Since then, the call for new labels has grown louder: FDA has heard from more than 5,000 members of CSPI’s action network elevating the call for better labels and the White House, along with members of Congress, have also implored the agency to adopt a mandatory front-of-package labeling policy.
Now, FDA is responding to our calls!
It’s time for New Yorkers to know exactly how much added sugars are lurking in the meals we consume at chain restaurants. We need the Sweet Truth Act so that New Yorkers will be able to see at a glance whether the drink, dessert, entrée, or side dish they’re about to order has more than a day’s worth of added sugars.
Testimony of Dr. DeAnna Nara, Senior Policy Associate, before the New York City Committee on Health & Subcommittee on COVID Recovery and Resiliency on Oversight - COVID-19: Looking Ahead (February 23, 2022).
Unhealthy dietary patterns, characterized in part by high consumption of sodium and added sugars, are a leading risk factor for mortality due to heart disease and other conditions. Specific dietary risk factors, including high sodium and sugary beverage intake, are estimated to account for a substantial number of deaths in the United States.
In this factsheet, we review relevant, scientific literature on nutrient warnings for a science and policy audience. Overall, evidence from randomized controlled trials and real-world studies suggests that nutrient warnings can increase consumers’ understanding of the healthfulness of foods and have the potential to play a role in reducing purchases of foods and drinks high in calories, sodium, and added sugars. To maximize public health impact, policymakers should design nutrient warnings to be simple, highly visible, and convey information with shapes, icons, and other imagery in addition to text.
The New York City Council today passed the Sweet Truth Act, historic legislation requiring warnings on prepackaged foods and drinks that contain more than a day’s worth of added sugars (50 grams) at chain restaurants.
As a public health nutritionist, I have had the opportunity to work closely with communities, teaching people about the role that nutrition plays in shaping and supporting our health. Over the years I have watched people take and apply these learnings and transform their lives and improve the health of themselves and their families.
More than three-quarters of New York state residents (78 percent) support government-required warnings on chain restaurant menu items with more than a day’s worth of added sugars. The support is consistently high across all demographic and political groups, according to a new poll conducted by Engine Insights.
