Press Releases

The Sugar Association Statement on Kearns JAMA Study

September 12, 2016

We acknowledge that the Sugar Research Foundation should have exercised greater transparency in all of its research activities, however, when the studies in question were published funding disclosures and transparency standards were not the norm they are today. Beyond this, it is challenging for us to comment on events that allegedly occurred 60 years ago, and on documents we have never seen.

Generally speaking, it is not only unfortunate but a disservice that industry-funded research is branded as tainted. What is often missing from the dialogue is that industry-funded research has been informative in addressing key issues.

We question this author’s continued attempts to reframe historical occurrences to conveniently align with the currently trending anti-sugar narrative, particularly when the last several decades of research have concluded that sugar does not have a unique role in heart disease.1

Most concerning is the growing use of headline-baiting articles to trump quality scientific research—we’re disappointed to see a journal of JAMA’s stature being drawn into this trend.

The Sugar Association is always seeking to further understand the role of sugar and health, but we rely on quality science and facts to drive our assertions.

  • The FDA recognizes “that U.S. consensus reports do not support a cause and effect relationship between added sugars consumption and risk of obesity or heart disease …”  (FDA, Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels Final Rule, May 27, 2016)
  • The systematic reviews performed by the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) concluded that, “Randomized controlled trials examining cardiovascular risk factors, body weight, inflammatory markers and risk factors for type 2 diabetes demonstrate no effects of increasing sugars intake.” (United Kingdom Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) report, Carbohydrates and Health, July 17, 2015)
  • The American Diabetes Association states that sugar is not different than starch with respect to blood glucose and lipid levels, when consumed up to 35% of calories.  Of note, current intakes of added sugars in the U.S. are only ~13% of calories. (Evert AB, Boucher JL, Cypress M, et al. Nutrition therapy recommendations for the management of adults with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2014;37 Suppl 1:S120-143.)

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The Sugar Association celebrates local D.C. businesses who make communities sweeter

October 14, 2024

WASHINGTON D.C. | OCTOBER 14 2024 – The Sugar Association is marking National Real Sugar Day today, by celebrating the real sugar that makes so many of our favorite local foods possible, and the hundreds of thousands of establishments across the United States who help create and bring those foods to our families and communities. […]

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National campaign empowers consumers to achieve added sugars goals and build balanced diets

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024 (Washington, DC) – To support Americans in understanding and achieving the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ recommendation for limiting added sugars to no more than 10% of total calories, the Sugar Association is expanding its nation-wide consumer education campaign, alongside resources for registered dietitians, with the theme “Life is sweet, keep it balanced.” […]

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USDA school meals rule could decrease diet quality, expose kids to more artificial sweeteners

April 24, 2024

April 24, 2024 (Washington, DC) – While welcoming the alignment of school meals with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and supporting the aim to limit added sugars to 10% of each week’s menu, the Sugar Association today (Wednesday) cautioned that imposing added sugars limits on individual products could limit access to nutrient-dense foods that […]

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