The new dietary guidelines could have implications for U.S. sugar producers, including sugarbeet growers in the Red River Valley. Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Executive Director Harrison Weber says the guidelines could paint an inaccurate picture of sugar’s place in a balanced diet. “We know that many of these real foods have been made with real sugar for hundreds of years, and the administration has pledged that these new guidelines for Americans are going to deliver fresh, simple, science-based guidelines,” Weber said. He added that sugar consumption has already been declining. “Added sugar intake has already plummeted 30 percent over the past two decades, while obesity has continued to rise by 40 percent. Healthy diets that prioritize real food clearly do have space for moderate amounts of real sugar, which can’t be removed without using chemical additives like artificial sweeteners that a large majority of Americans prefer to avoid.”
