Reducing the consumption of added sugars is an essential public health measure. Diets high in added sugars — from such foods as soft drinks, fruit drinks, candy, cakes, and cookies — squeeze healthier foods out of the diet, thereby displacing foods that provide nutrients that reduce the
risk of osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. In some people, diets rich in added sugars contribute to obesity, the prevalence of which has risen dramatically in the last two decades in both youths and adults. Obesity, in turn, increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems. In people who are “insulin resistant,” high intakes of added sugars increase levels of blood triglycerides, which may increase the risk of heart disease.
In addition, frequent consumption of foods rich in added sugars promote tooth decay.
Using current labels, it is impossible for consumers to determine how much sugar has been 2 added to foods such as yogurt, ice cream, puddings, frozen fruit bars, sorbet, canned or frozen fruit, fruit snacks, juice drinks (beverages, cocktails, etc.), jams, jellies, breakfast cereals, cereal bars, blueberry (or other fruit) muffins, and raisin (or other fruit) cookies. In addition, current labels fail to inform consumers how much of a reasonable day's intake of added sugars a serving of any food — from ice cream to soda pop — provides.