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Diving overview:
- The FDA is preparing a strategy to encourage the food industry to reduce added sugars in 2026. This is a key priority of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
- The plan could include proposals to define when the industry can use the phrase “low added sugars” and will explore strategies for labeling sugar substitutes that do not increase blood sugar.
- The Sugar Strategy is included as part of the FDA’s Human Food Program policy agenda for 2026. The FDA said it will also explore consumer education initiatives about sugar, examine ingredient labeling requirements, and evaluate the use of low- or no-calorie and non-nutritive alternative sweeteners.
Dive Insights:
The Trump administration is preparing to advance an ambitious 2026 agenda based on new dietary guidelines that specify limits on sugar and prioritization of foods like meat and dairy.
Kennedy claims sugar is the leading cause of chronic disease in America, saying sugar is a “poison” and sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup are “just a recipe for obesity and diabetes.”
The Trump administration’s revised dietary guidelines similarly call on Americans to avoid sugar in processed foods, and Kennedy said the government “declares war on added sugar.”
But similar to its approach to artificial dyes, the FDA appears to be leaning toward voluntary initiatives to lower sugars rather than outright regulation. In April, the Trump administration asked the food industry to stop using synthetic colors before 2027, forcing major manufacturers to reorganize part or all of their portfolios.
As consumers reduce their sugar intake and become more skeptical of artificial sweeteners, many food and beverage companies have already reformulated to lower sugar. According to Ingredion, “no added sugar” launches increased 4% from 2020 to 2023, with brands including Oreo, Gatorade and BodyArmor launching low- or no-sugar options.
More broadly, potential action could be taken on sugar as the Trump administration pursues policies consistent with new dietary guidelines. The 2026 agenda also includes a proposal to expand the foods eligible for voluntary “healthy” labels under the Dietary Guidelines, potentially paving the way for those labels to also apply to whole milk and beef tallow.
Other 2026 agenda items build on previously announced priorities, including defining ultra-processed foods, accelerating approval of natural colorants, and updating how new chemicals are approved under “generally recognized as safe” designation.
