Dive Brief:
- The FDA is preparing a strategy to encourage the food industry to lower added sugar in 2026, a major priority of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and the "Make America Healthy Again" movement.
- The plan could include a proposal that defines when the industry can use the claim "low added sugar," and will explore strategies for labeling sugar alternatives that don’t increase blood glucose.
- The sugar strategy was included as part of the agency’s Human Foods Program policy agenda for 2026. The FDA also said it would explore consumer education initiatives on sugar, investigate ingredient labeling requirements and assess the use of low or no-calorie and non-nutritive alternative sweeteners.
Dive Insight:
The Trump administration is preparing to advance an ambitious agenda in 2026, building on its new dietary guidelines, which call for limits on sugar and prioritizing foods such as meat and dairy.
Kennedy claims sugar is a major culprit in driving chronic disease in the U.S., saying it is "poison" and that sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup are “just a formula for making you obese and diabetic."
The Trump administration's revamped dietary guidelines similarly call for Americans to avoid sugar in processed foods, with Kennedy saying the "government declares war on added sugar."
But similar to its approach on artificial dyes, the FDA appears to be leaning on voluntary initiatives for lowering sugar rather than outright regulation. The Trump administration last April asked the food industry to end use of synthetic colors before 2027, prompting major manufacturers to reformulate parts or all of their portfolios.
Many food and beverage companies have already reformulated to lower sugar as consumers look to reduce their sugar intake and become more skeptical of artificial sweeteners. "No added sugar" launches grew 4% from 2020 to 2023, according to Ingredion, and brands including Oreo, Gatorade and BodyArmor have launched lower- or zero-sugar options.
More broadly, potential action on sugar comes as the Trump administration looks to advance policies that align with the new dietary guidelines. The 2026 agenda also includes a proposal to expand which foods can use the voluntary “healthy" label based on the dietary guidelines, potentially paving the way for whole milk or beef tallow to carry the claim.
Other 2026 agenda items largely build on previously announced priorities, including defining ultraprocessed foods, accelerating approval of natural colors and updating how new chemicals are approved under the "Generally Recognized as Safe" designation.
