A citizen petition from the Union of Concerned Scientists asks FDA to amend regulations regarding health and nutrient content claims for packaged foods to include a disqualifying level for added sugar. In the 2016 final rule mentioned above, FDA required disclosure of added sugars in food products. FDA also published updated dietary guidelines advising that consumers not take in more than 10 percent of daily calories from added sugars. The petition states that "food companies should not be able to label or advertise foods as healthy or nutritious if the amount of added sugar exceeds an FDA-determined percent of calories per serving." The petition supports its request, stating "scientific research continues to generate a body of evidence for a causal relationship between sugar consumption and weight gain and between sugar consumption and the rise in the incidence of the major chronic metabolic diseases (i.e. type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high triglycerides, and hypertension)." FDA has acknowledged receipt of the petition.
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