The AMA recently applauded the FDA's new nutrition labels, which highlight sugar amounts. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
+ Regulatory
Amanda Rupp | May 26, 2016

AMA celebrates new nutrition labels highlighting sugar amounts

Leaders at the American Medical Association (AMA) recently congratulated the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for modifying its Nutrition Facts Label to emphasize the sugar levels in food products.

The new labels will show the most recent conclusions from scientific research, helping consumers sustain healthy nutrition habits. This label will be included on the packages of beverages and foods and will show how much added sugar is in the product, as well as the total sugar contained in the food item.

"The newly updated Nutrition Facts Label better equips consumers with the information they need to make healthy food and beverage choices and ultimately help improve health outcomes for patients across the country," AMA President Steven Stack said. "We commend the FDA for modernizing the label, particularly the inclusion of added sugars, which we believe will be extremely helpful in preventing the debilitating chronic medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease -- currently affecting millions of Americans."

The AMA, which has long called for improved Nutrition Facts Labels on food products, maintains high standards and policies concerning sugar-sweetened beverages. It also has policies concerning obesity prevention and decreasing sodium intake.

Such standards provide the guidelines for the Nutrition Facts Label from the FDA.

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