World Health Organization In 2003, the WHO defined free sugars principally by defining the term "
carbohydrate" into elements that relate more directly to the impact on health rather than a chemical definition, and followed on from meta-studies relating to
chronic disease,
obesity, and
dental decay related to the overconsumption of high quantities of added sugar in processed foods. In tandem with the
Food and Agriculture Organization, the WHO published a revised
food pyramid that splits up the diet into more health-directed groups, recommending that a maximum of 10% of an individual's diet should come from free sugars. Sugar companies disputed the WHO report for suggesting that consumption of free sugars within the food pyramid should only amount to a daily maximum of 10%, and that there should be no minimum sugar intake. In 2015, the WHO published a new guideline on sugar intake for adults and children as a result of an extensive review of the available scientific evidence by a multidisciplinary group of experts. The guideline recommends that both adults and children reduce the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake.
Food and Drug Administration In 2016, the US
Food and Drug Administration revised its regulations for
nutrition facts labelling, with the changes becoming mandatory by July 2018 in most cases.
European Food Safety Authority In February 2022, scientists of the
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that sugar consumption is a known cause of
dental caries, and that evidence also links to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, juices and nectars with various chronic metabolic diseases including obesity,
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and
type 2 diabetes. EFSA stated: "We underlined there are uncertainties about chronic disease risk for people whose consumption of added and free sugars is below 10% of their total energy intake".
American Heart Association In 2018, the
American Heart Association recommended daily intake of sugar for men is 9
teaspoons or per day, and for women, six teaspoons or per day. Overconsumption of sugars in foods and beverages may increase the risk of several diseases. ==See also==