Dive Brief:
- Andrew Briscoe III stepped down from his position as president and CEO of the Sugar Association last week after serving the organization for almost 13 years.
- Courtney Gaine, the Sugar Association's vice president of scientific affairs, will fill Briscoe's vacated role on an interim basis.
- The Sugar Association is a lobby known for defending sugar marketing, but the sweetener has come under fire and increased scrutiny from consumers, public health advocates, and legislators in recent years.
Dive Insight:
Gaine's scientific background demonstrates the association's invigorated focus on the science behind sugar and nutrition, according to Brian O'Malley, chairman of the Sugar Association and chief of member ASR Group's Domino Foods, in a statement.
Scrutiny has come from several major players in public health and governance, including the WHO and the FDA. In March, the WHO released guidelines recommending that consumers reduce their sugar intake down to less than 10%, or even 5%, of their daily calorie intake, or about six to 12 teaspoons of sugar per day, as compared to the 18 teaspoons per day consumed by the average American. The FDA echoed this sentiment in November with its own recommendation of consuming sugar equal to 10% or less of daily calories.
With those statements made public, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines released last week confirmed the 10% of daily calorie intake recommendation, followed by Briscoe's exit from the Sugar Association, reported Reuters.
These reduced sugar recommendations mean manufacturers may have to figure out ways to remove added sugars from its products, particularly processed foods, which can contain sugar. Last year, the FDA suggested that food labels should include a "percent daily value" of added sugar. Manufacturers including Mars and Nestle have supported this recommendation, but others, including General Mills, and industry groups, including the American Beverage Association and American Bakers Association, have spoken out against it.
"I don’t think it is up to a manufacturer to produce every food to comply with all the Dietary Guidelines," Gaine told Food Dive. "There is no one product or ingredient that makes a diet. I know the food industry is working hard to comply with Dietary Guidelines."
Late last year, the Sugar Association also wrapped up its lawsuit filed against the Corn Refiners Association, and vice versa, over advertisements from both parties that the other group found misleading. High fructose corn syrup is seeing similar issues to sugar regarding consumer health concerns.