Look for Added Sugars. Labels for foods and beverages with added sugars will list the number of grams and the percent Daily Value (%DV) for added sugars within the Nutrition Facts label. Added sugars have been added to the label because consuming too much added sugars can make it hard to meet nutrient needs while staying within your calorie limits and difficult to control your blood sugar measurement. Added sugars include sugars that are added during the processing of foods—often referred to as hidden sugars (such as sucrose or dextrose), foods packaged as sweeteners (such as table sugar), sugars from syrups and honey, and sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices.
Have you ever wondered why there are carbs in frankfurters, bologna, or other processed meats? Or, if you have diabetes, why your blood glucose levels go up higher than usual after eating them? Hidden sugar is most likely the cause. The new label will reveal hidden sugar and take the guesswork out of carbohydrate counting.
To learn more about the updated Nutrition Facts Label, visit the FDA website.
Constance Brown-Riggs, is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of the Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World, a convenient guide to help people with diabetes enjoy all the flavors of the world while still following a healthy meal plan. Follow Constance on social media @eatingsoulfully