Added sugar labels reduce consumer demand for sweetened foods study finds

Mandatory added sugar labeling on American food products has reduced consumer demand for and consumption of certain foods, Mirage News reported. The findings come from a study led by researchers at the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State. [1]

The United States made the disclosure of added sugars on food labels mandatory by 2021, Mirage News reported. Researchers determined that clearer label information reduced consumer demand for items containing higher levels of added sugar across both product categories studied. [1]

Co-author Yizao Liu, an associate professor of agricultural economics, stated that clear information alters purchasing decisions and provides policymakers with more targeted options, Mirage News reported. Liu noted that explicitly identifying added sugar allows policy efforts to become more specific. [1]

As FTMQ Food reported earlier, sugar-free food formulation trends are already contributing to structural expansion in the global bulk sweeteners market through 2035. [3]