June15,2018Dr.ScottGottliebCommissionerFoodandDrugAdministration10903NewHampshireAvenueSilverSpring,MD20993Re:TheDeclarationofAddedSugarsonHoney,MapleSyrup,andCertainCranberryProducts;DraftGuidanceforIndustry;Availability;DocketNo.FDA–2018–D–0075DearCommissionerGottlieb:TheCenterforScienceinthePublicInterest(CSPI)appreciatestheopportunitytocommentontheFoodandDrugAdministration’sproposedruleanddraftguidanceforindustryregardingthedeclarationofaddedsugarsonhoney,maplesyrup,andcertaincranberryproducts.Itisimportanttoensurethatmanufacturers’statementsaboutthemeaningof“addedsugars”onallNutritionFactslabelsaretruthfulandnotmisleading.Ifthisdraftguidanceisnotcarefullyconsidered,suchstatementsmayleadconsumerstoerroneouslyconcludethattheaddedsugarsinhoney,maplesyrup,andsomecranberryproductsareinherentlylessharmfulthanotheraddedsugars.Infact,FDA’sfinalNutritionFactslabelruleconsidersallformsofaddedsugars—includinghoney,maplesyrup,andsugarsaddedtosweetencranberryproducts—tobeequivalent,andguidancethatpermitsanystatementthatappearstounderminethisconclusionisbothoutsidethescopeoftheruleandcontrarytoit.Furthermore,suchastatementisalsocontrarytothescienceonaddedsugars.CSPIisanon-profitconsumereducationandadvocacyorganizationthat,since1971,hasworkedtoimprovethepublic’shealththroughbetternutritionandfoodsafety.CSPI’sworkissupportedprimarilybyroughly500,000subscriberstoitsNutritionActionHealthletter,oneofthenation’slargest-circulationhealthnewsletters.CSPIisanindependentorganizationthatdoesnotacceptgovernmentorcorporatedonations.CSPIhasadvocatedfordecadestoensurethatNutritionFactslabelsandclaimsonfoodlabelsaretruthfulandnotmisleading.FDA’sdraftguidancewouldallowmanufacturersofsingle-ingredienthoneyandmaplesyruptoplaceadaggeradjacenttotheirNutritionFactsdeclarationofaddedsugarswithanaccompanying“factualstatement”toindicatethatthesesugarsarenaturallyoccurringinthehoneyormaplesyrup.Itwouldalsoallowmanufacturersofcranberryjuiceanddriedcranberryproductswithaddedsugarstousethedaggerwithastatementthatsugarsareaddedbecauseofcranberries’tartnessandthattheDietaryGuidelinesallowsroomfor

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suchsugarsinthediet.WerespectfullysubmitthefollowingcommentsregardingFDA’sdraftguidanceontheuseofadaggerandaccompanying“factualstatement”abouttheNutritionFactslabeldeclarationofaddedsugarsinhoney,maplesyrup,andcertaincranberryproducts.

I. FDAcannotallowcompaniestowritetheirown“factualstatement.”Thepurposeofthestatement,accordingtothedraftguidance,istopreventconsumerconfusion.FDAindicatesthatitistakingthisactiontoaddressstakeholders’concernsthatconsumersmightmisinterprettheaddedsugarsdeclarationtomeanthatmaplesyruporhoneyhavebeencombinedwithsweetenerslikecornsyrup,ortomeanthatdriedcranberriesandcranberryjuiceproductswithaddedsugarsare“lessnutritious”thanotherdriedfruitsor100%juiceswithnoaddedsugars.However,allowingcompaniestowritetheirownstatementswouldsowfargreaterconfusion.Consumerscomparingbrandsofhoney,forexample,mightinterpretdifferentstatementstomeanthatonebrandhasmoreorlessaddedsugarthananother.Companies’statements,inevitablyinformedbymarketingandcompetitiveconcerns,mightalsoimplythattherearehealthbenefitsofconsumingaddedsugarsfromhoneyormaplesyrupratherthansugarbeetsorcane.Instead,FDAshouldprovideclearandstandardizedwordingforanoptionalstatementoneachtypeofproduct(honey,maplesyrup,andcranberryproducts).BecausethestatementsarereferencedbyadaggerwithintheNutritionFactslabel,theagencyisobligatedtoensurethattheyareconsistentinsupportingconsumers’effortstomaintainhealthydietarypractices,ratherthan,ineffect,conferringthelegitimacyoftheNutritionFactslabelupondivergent,potentiallyself-servingindustrystatements.

II. FDAshouldconductconsumertestingofanyproposed“factualstatement”toensurethatitimprovesunderstandingandpromptshealthierchoices.

InthefinalNutritionFactsrule,FDArequiredthedeclarationofaddedsugars—forallfoodsandbeverages—becauseconsumingtoomuchaddedsugardilutesnutrientdensity,increasescaloricintake,andisassociatedwithanincreasedriskofcardiovasculardisease.1Inaddition,theDailyValueforaddedsugarstellsconsumershowmuchofaday’sworthofaddedsugarseachservingofafoodprovides.Therefore,tobeconsistentwiththerule,FDAmustensurethatanystatementsabouttheaddedsugarsdeclarationnotleadconsumerstodevalueordisregardthelabelingandpercentDailyValueforaddedsugars,potentiallyleadingtoanindustry-drivenincreaseinconsumptionofparticularproducts,ortoanincreaseinconsumers’overallintakeofaddedsugars.Withoutconsumerstudiestoensurethatthesestatementsarenotmisleading,FDArisksunderminingcriticaladvicethatthenewNutritionFactslabelgivestoconsumersanddiminishingitsbenefitstopublichealth.

III. FDAshouldrevokepermissionforsuch“factualstatements”abouttheaddedsugarsdeclarationoneyearaftertheNutritionFactslabelcompliancedate.

FDA’sdraftguidanceexplains:“[a]sconsumersbecomeaccustomedtothenewNutritionFactslabelandeducatedontheaddedsugarsdeclarationandtheDailyValue,wemayre-

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evaluatetheplacementofthe‘†’symbolintheNutritionFactslabel.”WeagreethatthedaggerandstatementarelikelytobecomeunnecessaryonceconsumersarefamiliarwiththenewNutritionFactslabelandthedefinitionofaddedsugarsthroughcontinuedexposureinthemarketplaceandconsumereducation.GiventhenewNutritionFactslabel’sswiftadoption—anestimated15,000productsboreitbytheendof20172—mostconsumerswillbefamiliarwithaddedsugarslabelingwellbeforethecompliancedatesofJanuary1,2020andJanuary1,2021.Thus,FDAshouldexpeditiouslyrevoketheprovisionforthe“†”symbolandstatementsabouthoney,maplesyrup,andcranberryproductswithinayearofcompliance.Wenowconsidereachoftheproducts(cranberryjuice,driedcranberries,andhoney/maplesyrup)implicatedbythedraftguidanceinturn.

IV. FDAshouldnotpermita“factualstatement”—especiallyonecitingnutrientdensity—oncranberryjuiceproductsthatcontainaddedsugars.

TheexamplestatementthatFDAprovidedinthedraftguidancereads,“Sugarsaddedtoimprovethepalatabilityofnaturallytartcranberries.The2015-2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericansstatethatthereisroomforlimitedamountsofAddedSugarsinthediet,especiallyfromnutrientdensefoodlikenaturallytartcranberries.”Thissoundslikeadvertisingcopy,notaclearstatementofpublichealthinformation.SuchastatementmisleadsconsumersaboutboththeFDA’sDailyValueforaddedsugarsandtheDietaryGuidelines’adviceconcerningcranberryjuicedrinks.Aswestateinthenextsection,weopposeitsuseonallcranberryproducts,butinparticularthestatementisinappropriateandmisleadingwhenusedoncranberryjuicedrinks.First,thesamplestatementmisleadsconsumersandunderminesthecredibilityofFDA’sDailyValue(DV)foraddedsugarsbyimplyingthatcranberryjuicedrinkscontaina“limited”amountofaddedsugars.Aservingofcranberryjuicecocktailcontainsapproximately50%ofaday’saddedsugar(seeAppendix).Yettheproposedstatementimpliesmisleadinglythatthisisa“limitedamount.”Infact,FDAregulationsdefine20%ormoreoftheDVasa“high”amount;disqualifyproductsthatcontain20%ormoreoftheDVperservingforfat,saturatedfat,cholesterol,orsodiumfrommakingahealthclaim;andrequireadisclosurewhenthoseproductsmakecertainnutrientcontentclaims.3FDAshouldonlyallowastatementtousewordslike“alimitedamount”torefertolevelsatorbelowapproximately5%oftheDV,whichisconsistentwithFDA’sdefinitionof“low”forfat,saturatedfat,andsodium.4Inaddition,unlessanduntilFDAdefinessucha“low”nutrientcontentclaimforaddedsugars,astatementreferringtoa“limitedamount”ofaddedsugarsinaproductisinfactmisleadingperse.Similarly,theproposedstatementmisleadsconsumersbyimplyingthatcranberryjuicedrinksarenutrientdense.“Cranberryjuicecocktail”typicallycontainsnomorethan15%to30%cranberryjuice,pluswaterandaddedsugars.Suchdrinksthereforecontainfewernutrientsthan100%juiceblendsthatcontaincranberryjuiceandotherfruitjuices,orthanothertypesof100%fruitjuice(Table1)—notmore,asFDA’sproposedstatementimplies.Orange,grapefruit,pineapple,andprunejuicesareallfarmorenutrientdensethancranberryjuicecocktail.(GrapeandapplejuicewouldalsobemorenutrientdensethancranberryjuicecocktailifcranberryjuicecocktaildidnothaveaddedvitaminC.)The

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differenceinnutrientdensitybetweenjuicedrinksandmany100%fruitjuicesillustrateswhytheadded-sugarsdeclarationandpercentDailyValueonNutritionFactslabelsarehelpfultoconsumers,solongastheyarenotundercutbystatementssuchasthatproposedbyFDA.

Orange Juice1

Grapefruit Juice

Prune Juice

Pineapple Juice

Grape Juice

Apple Juice

Cranberry Juice

Cocktail

Calories 120 100 180 130 150 110 140 Sugar (g) 21 20 42 25 36 24 30 % Daily Value Calcium 2% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% Iron 2% 1% 17% 4% 4% 2% 1% Magnesium 6% 5% 9% 7% 6% 3% 1% Potassium 9% 8% 15% 7% 6% 5% 1% Zinc 2% 1% 5% 3% 2% 0% 1% Copper 12% 9% 19% 19% 5% 3% 3% Manganese 2% 2% 17% 55% 26% 8% 5% Selenium 0% 1% 3% 0% 0% 0% 1% Vitamin C 93% 96% 12% 28% 0% 2% 119%2 Thiamin 10% 14% 3% 12% 4% 4% 0% Riboflavin 7% 4% 14% 4% 3% 3% 0% Niacin 4% 4% 13% 3% 2% 1% 1% Pantothenic acid 10% 14% 5% 3% 2% 2% 3% Vitamin B-6 11% 6% 33% 15% 5% 3% 0% Folate 12% 9% 0% 11% 0% 0% 0% Vitamin A 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Vitamin E 3% 4% 2% 0% 0% 0% 4% Vitamin K 0% 0% 7% 1% 1% 0% 2%

1 USDA National Nutrient Database entries (left to right): 09209, 09123, 09294, 09273, 09135, 09016, 14242.

2 Contains added vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Table1.Nutrientsin1cupof100%orange,grapefruit,prune,pineapple,grape,andapplejuices,andin1cupofcranberryjuicecocktail.Source:USDANationalNutrientDatabaseforStandardReferenceInadditiontothefactthatcranberryjuicedrinksarenotnutrientdense,thephrase“especiallyfromnutrientdensefoodlikenaturallytartcranberries”islikelytomisleadconsumersbecauseitimpliesthatcranberryproductsaremorehealthfulthanotherfoods.Itdoesthisintwoways:1)“especially”impliesthattheGuidelinesencouragespeopletoconsumemorecranberryjuicedrinksinparticular,and2)“nutrientdensefood”isnotfurtherdefined.Manyconsumersareunlikelytounderstandthat“nutrientdensefood”encompassesawidevarietyofunprocessedfoods,including“[a]llvegetables,fruits,wholegrains,seafood,eggs,beansandpeas,unsaltednutsandseeds,fat-freeandlow-fatdairyproducts,andleanmeatsandpoultry,”accordingtotheGuidelines’definition.5FDA’ssamplestatementimpliesthatsugar-sweetenedcranberryjuicedrinksareinherentlymorehealthfulthanmanyotherfoods.Suchastatementisunscientific,highlymisleading,andinconsistentwiththeDietaryGuidelinesforAmericans.

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Finally,theexamplestatementproposedintheFDA’sdraftguidanceisfactuallyinaccuratewithrespecttocranberryjuicedrinks,becauseitincorrectlyappliesthe2015-2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericansstatementaboutcranberries(afood)tocranberryjuicedrinks(abeverage).Infact,the2015-2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericansmakesitclearthatcranberryjuiceproductswithaddedsugarsarejuicedrinks(i.e.,sugar-sweetenedbeverages)anddiscouragestheirconsumptionbecausejuicedrinksarelesshealthyandcontainfewernutrientsthan100%fruitjuice.AstheGuidelinessays,“Whenjuicesareconsumed,theyshouldbe100%juice,withoutaddedsugars…Sweetenedjuiceproductswithminimaljuicecontent,suchasjuicedrinks,areconsideredtobesugar-sweetenedbeveragesratherthanfruitjuicebecausetheyareprimarilycomposedofwaterwithaddedsugar.”6TheGuidelinesonlyacknowledgesaroleforaddedsugarinsweeteningnaturallytartfoods,notdrinks,notingthat“[t]hereisroomforAmericanstoincludelimitedamountsofaddedsugarsintheireatingpatterns,includingtoimprovethepalatabilityofsomenutrient-densefoods,suchasfruitsandvegetablesthatarenaturallytart(e.g.,cranberriesandrhubarb).”[Emphasisadded]7Thisstatement,whichwasspecifictocranberriesconsumedasafood,isnotfactuallyaccuratewhenappliedtocranberryjuicedrinks.Suchamisleadingandfactuallyinaccuratestatementisalsoentirelyunnecessary.Thereisnoreason(otherthanmarketingthatbenefitsthecranberryindustry)forastatementtofurtherqualify—andparticularlyas“nutrientdense”ora“limitedamount”—thenutritionalvalueorpercentDailyValueofaddedsugarscontainedintheseproducts.Thecompaniescannotescapethefactthattheirproductscomewithmoreundesirablecharacteristicsandfewernutrientsthansimilarproducts—andtheNutritionFactspanelsimplyreflectsthat.ItisnotFDA’sresponsibilitytocompensateforthesecharacteristicsoftheproduct.Accordingly,weurgetheFDAtoamendtheguidancetospecifythattermsdescribingcranberryjuicecocktailsas“nutrientdense”orimplyingthattheycontaina“limitedamount”ofaddedsugarmaynotbeincludedinanasterisktotheNutritionFactslabel,orelsewhereontheproductlabel.

V. FDAshouldnotpermita“factualstatement”onsweeteneddriedcranberries.

FDAshouldnotpermittheexample“factualstatement”onsweeteneddriedcranberrieseither,becauseitimpliesthatsweeteneddriedcranberriesareuniquelynutritious.Suchastatementmaypromoteexcessconsumptionofdriedcranberriesinsteadoffreshorfrozenfruit,whichislesscaloriedense.Forexample,just¼cupofdriedsweetenedcranberriescontainsasmanycalories(130)as1½cupsofwholeblueberriesor2½cupsofslicedstrawberries.Inaddition,suchaconcessionforsweeteneddriedcranberrieswouldlikelypromptsimilarrequestsfromcompaniesthatselldriedblueberriesortartcherries,8whichwouldfurtherconfuseconsumersandundulydelayimplementationofthenewNutritionFactslabel.However,evenifFDAdecidestopermitastatementonsweeteneddriedcranberriesthatdonotexceedthetotalsugarlevelsofunsweeteneddriedfruits,suchasraisins,theagencyshouldnotpermitthestatementondriedcranberriesthatcontainothercaloricingredientsthatdilutetheirnutrientdensity.Forexample,FDAshouldnotallowthestatementonsweeteneddriedcranberriesthatarecoveredinchocolateorso-called“yogurt”(largely

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sugarandpalmkerneloil)coatings.Likewise,thestatementshouldnotbepermittedonmulti-ingredientproductsthatcontainothersourcesofaddedsugars(suchastrailmixes,coldcereals,andgranolabars).Inaddition,assumingFDAincludesanystatement,itshouldreviseitsexamplestatementtoavoidmisleadingconsumersaboutthebenefitsofcalorie-densedriedfruits.CSPIrecommendsashortversionofFDA’sexamplestatementthatincludesonlythefirstsentence:“Sugarsaddedtoimprovethepalatabilityofnaturallytartcranberries.”Thissentenceisclear,simple,andaccuratelyconveysthatcranberriesinherentlyrequireaddedsugarforpalatability.Incontrast,thephrase“especiallyfromnutrientdensefoodlikenaturallytartcranberries”inFDA’ssampleislikelytomisleadconsumersfortworeasons,aspreviouslystatedforjuicedrinks:1)“especially”impliesthattheGuidelinesencouragesconsumerstoconsumemoredriedcranberriesinparticular,whenitdoesn’t,and2)“nutrientdensefood”isnotfurtherdefined.Aspreviouslystated,manyconsumersareunlikelytounderstandthat“nutrientdensefood,”bytheGuidelines’definition,encompassesawidevarietyofunprocessedfoods.9FDA’smisleadingsamplestatementimpliesthatsweeteneddriedcranberriesareinherentlymorehealthfulthanmanyotherfoods.Furthermore,asnotedabove,thephrase“the2015-2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericansstatethatthereisroomforlimitedamountsofAddedSugarsinthediet”impliesthatdriedcranberriescontainalowamountofaddedsugars.A¼cupservingofsweeteneddriedcranberriescontainsroughly50%oftheDVforaddedsugar(seeAppendix).Aswestateinthepriorsection,thisamountfarexceedsFDA’sregulationsconcerning“high”levelsofothernutrientsinfoods.Useoftheterm“limitedamountofaddedsugars”ondriedsweetenedcranberryproductsisthereforemisleading.Alternatively,ifFDAdecidestoincludeinformationfromtheGuidelinesinitsexamplestatement,CSPIsuggeststhefollowingwording:“Sugarsareaddedbecausecranberriesarenaturallytart.The2015-2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericansrecommendnomorethan50gramsofaddedsugarsperday(theDailyValue).”Thiswordingaddressestheissuesnotedabovebecauseitomitstheword“limited,”anditclarifiesthatthesugarsaddedtocranberriescounttowardthe50-gramDailyValueforaddedsugars.

VI. A“factualstatement”forhoneyandmaplesyrupproductsisunnecessarybecausetheproductnamesandanoptionalingredientslistconveythesameinformation.Moreover,FDA’sexamplestatementisextremelymisleadingtoconsumers.

TheFDAdraftguidance’sexample“factualstatement”forhoneystates:“Allthesesugarsarenaturallyoccurringinhoney.”Companiesclaimthatthisstatementisneededbecauseconsumersmightmisinterprettheadded-sugarsdeclarationtomeanthatmaplesyruporhoneyhasbeenadulteratedwithsweetenerslikecornsyrup.Whileweunderstandthatconcern,adaggerand“factualstatement”isanunnecessaryandpotentiallyconfusingfix.The“factualstatement”isunnecessarybecausecompaniescanusefarmoreprominentproductnamesorfront-of-packageclaimstodescribethecontentsandassureshoppers;e.g.,“100%purehoney”or“100%puremaplesyrup”(Figure1).Companiesalsohavethe

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optionofplacinganingredientslistimmediatelybeloworadjacenttotheNutritionFactslabel.Aningredientslistclarifiesthattheproductcontainsonlyhoneyormaplesyrupwithnoaddedsweeteners(Figure2).

Figure1.Maplesyrupwithaprominent“100%pure”claim.Source:LabelInsight

Figure2.HoneywiththenewNutritionFactslabel,a“100%pure”claim,andaningredientslist.Source:LabelInsightIfFDApermitshoneyandmaplesyrupcompaniestouseafactualstatement,itwilllikelyfacesimilarrequestsfromcompaniesthatmarketsingle-ingredientpackagesofagavesyrup,molasses,brownricesyrup,sugar,andothersweeteners.Infact,theInternationalSugarTradeCoalitionhasalreadymadethatrequest.10InsteadoflitteringsomanyNutritionFactslabelswithdaggersandpotentiallymisleadingstatements,FDAshouldrelyoningredientslists,productnames,andNutritionFactsconsumereducationefforts(byFDAorconcernedcompanies).Theunqualifieddisclosureof“addedsugars”onpackagesof

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single-ingredientsweetenerssuchashoney,maplesyrup,canesugar,andagavesyrupisanimportanteducationaltooltoinformconsumersthattheseproductscontributeaddedsugars—andessentiallynoothernutrients—totheirdiets.Theproposedexample“factualstatement”isalsoextremelymisleadingtoconsumers,underminingeffortstoeducateconsumersaboutthedietaryrecommendationsforaddedsugars.Manyconsumersremainunfamiliarwiththeconceptofaddedsugars,whichisintendedtodescribesugarsthathavebeenconcentratedorrefinedforuseassweeteners,asopposedtosugarsthatarepresentnaturallyandwithoutfurtherrefinementinfruits,vegetables,andmilk.Manyconsumersmaywronglybelievethatbecausehoneyandmaplesyrupareextractedandconcentratedthroughbiologicalprocesses(inthecaseofhoney),ortraditionalmethods(maplesyrup),theseproductsarehealthierthanothersourcesofaddedsugars,suchasfromsugarbeets,corn,orcane.TheymayalsowronglyinferthatthesesugarsshouldnotcounttowardtheirDailyValueforaddedsugar.Infact,thesugarsinhoneyandmaplesyruparenotmorehealthfulorlesscaloricthanotheraddedsugars,andconsumersshouldconsiderthesesourcesascontributingtotheirDailyValueforaddedsugar.Ratherthancorrectthismisperceptionbyeducatingconsumers,theFDA’sexample“factualstatement”fuelsconfusionbystatingthatthe“addedsugar”inhoneyis“naturallyoccurring.”IfFDAproceedswithpermittingadaggerand“factualstatement”forhoneyandmaplesyrup,itshouldrevisethestatementtoavoidmisleadingconsumers.Instead,FDAshouldrequireaspecificstatementthateducatesconsumersabout“addedsugars”byclarifyingthatthesugarspresentinhoneyormaplesyrupcounttowardtheDailyValue.Forexample:“ThesugarinhoneycountstowardyourDailyValueforaddedsugars.”(Or“SugarsfromhoneycounttowardyourDailyValueforaddedsugars.”)Suchalternativeswouldbefarmoreaccurate,clear,andusefultoconsumers.Alternatively,FDA’sstatementcouldemphasizethattheunadulteratedproductcontainsonlyhoneyormaplesyrupwithnootheringredients,suchas:“Thisproductcontainshoneywithnootheringredients.”(Or“Thisproductcontainsmaplesyrupwithnootheringredients.”)

VII. FDAshouldnotexerciseenforcementdiscretiontogiveproductsaffectedbythedraftguidanceanadditionalyeartocomplywiththenewNutritionFactslabel.

TheagencyshouldnotgrantproductsaffectedbythedraftguidanceanadditionalyeartocomplybeyondtheproposedNutritionFactslabeldelay.ThisenforcementdiscretionwouldamounttoadelaytoJanuary1,2021,andJanuary1,2022,forlargeandsmallmanufacturers,respectively.Furtherdelayforanoptionallabelstatementisunnecessary;updatingtheNutritionFactslabelisalreadylongoverdue.11Inaddition,theabsenceofthenewNutritionFactslabelonaffectedproductsintheinterimcouldharmthepublic’shealth.NewNutritionFactslabelsincludethelineforaddedsugarsandpercentDailyValue,therefresheddesignthatincludesalarger,boldertypesizeforkeyinformation(includingcalories),andclearerlabelingofthenutrientcontentinasingle-servingcontainer.Thisproposedunwarranteddelaywouldalsoprolongtheconfusingandunfair(tocompliantcompanies)hodgepodgeofnewandoldNutritionFactslabelsinthemarketplace.

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Furthermore,manymanufacturersofcranberryjuicedrinks,honey,andmaplesyruphavealreadyadoptedthenewNutritionFactslabel(seeAppendix).Thiswidespreadearlyadoptiondemonstratesthatimplementingthenewlabelontheseproductswithoutanoptionaldaggerandstatementisclear,feasible,andacceptabletomanufacturers.Formanufacturersthatwishtouseanoptionaldaggerandstatement,thedelayedcompliancedatesofJanuary1,2020,andJanuary1,2021,forlargeandsmallmanufacturers,respectively,alreadyprovidemorethanampletimeforFDAtofinalizethisguidance.

VIII.ConclusionInconclusion,FDAmustensurethatmanufacturers’statementsaboutthemeaningof“addedsugars”onallNutritionFactslabelsaretruthfulandnotmisleading.ConsumerswouldbebestservedifFDAdidnotpermita“factualstatement”qualifyingtheaddedsugarsincranberry,honey,andmapleproducts.Ataminimum,iftheagencyallowsfora“factualstatement,”itshouldrequireaspecificstatementinamannerdescribedinthesecomments,ratherthanauthorizingmanufacturerstocrafttheirownstatementsandprovidingexamplesthataremisleadingtoconsumers.Endnotes

1 81FR103at33799. 2 FoodDive:Poll:Consumersappreciatetransparencyofnutritionlabels.LabelInsight.October3,2017.Availableat:https://www.labelinsight.com/press/food-dive-poll-consumers-appreciate-transparency-of-nutrition-labels. 3 21CFR101.54,101.14,and101.13. 4 21CFR101.61and101.62. 5 U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesandU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.2015–2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericans.EighthEdition.December2015.Availableat:https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/resources/2015-2020_Dietary_Guidelines.pdf(p.94). 6 Ibid (p.21-22). 7 Ibid(p.31). 8 81FR146at50143. 9 U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesandU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,op.cit.(p.94). 10 InternationalSugarTradeCoalition.CommentsontheDraftGuidanceEntitled“TheDeclarationofAddedSugarsonHoney,MapleSyrup,andCertainCranberryProducts:GuidanceforIndustry.”March2,2018.Availableat:https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FDA-2018-D-0075-0036. 11 SeealsoCSPI’scommentsRe:DocketNo.FDA-2012-N-1210;ProposedExtensionofComplianceDates.https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/Center%20for%20Science%20in%20the%20Public%20Interest%20Comment%20on%20Nutrition%20Facts%20label%20extension.pdf.

Appendix

Examples of Cranberry, Maple, and Honey Products with the New Nutrition Facts Label

Source: Label Insight

Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Kirkland Signature Organic Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Nice! Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Meijer Cranberry Cocktail

Minute Maid Cranberry Grape Flavored Juice Beverage

Ahold Cranberry Grape Flavored Juice Cocktail

Brookshire’s Cranberry Pineapple Juice Cocktail

Sweetened Dried Cranberries

Signature Farms Dried Cranberries

Wild Harvest Organic Dried Sweetened Cranberries

Brandless Dried Cranberries

Maple Syrup

O Organics 100% Pure Maple Syrup

Honey

Wholesome Organic Raw Unfiltered Honey

Wholesome Spreadable Organic Raw Unfiltered Honey

Heavenly Organics 100% Organic Raw Neem Honey

Heavenly Organics 100% Organic Raw White Honey