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Statement from the Sugar Association

The Sugar Association statement in response to the #NoSugarTODAY 10-day detox.
/ Source: TODAY

In response to the #NoSugarTODAY 10-day detox, the Sugar Association issued a statement:

"The targeting of all-natural sugar is an oversimplified approach to the complex problem of obesity that is simply not backed by sound science or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.

The Institute of Medicine, European Food Safety Authority and the U.K. Scientific Advisory Council on Nutrition, three authoritative scientific organizations, each conducted extensive scientific reviews of the evidence on “added sugars” and obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dental caries and found no unique role involving “added sugars.”

The preponderance of scientific information on “added sugars” intake does not support any assertion that “added sugars” intake uniquely contributes to obesity other than as a source of calories, as all foods do. Further, even as a source of calories, intake data do not support “added sugars” intake as a major source of increased caloric intake.

Of note, over the past 40 years, U.S. consumption of sugar/sucrose declined by 33% per capita as obesity and other serious diseases increased. According to USDA data, Americans are consuming 425 more calories per person per day than they did in 1970 and of these 425 calories only 38 calories are attributed to caloric sweetener intake.

Use of terms like “toxic” and other scare tactics by activists and the media are misguided, are not supported by science and USDA data and take us further away from proven interventions in the fight against obesity.

Bottom line: Sugar is a sweetener all consumers can recognize and when consumed in moderation, has been and should continue to be part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle."