Piggybacking off the FDA’s announcement in November, the US Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday set strict limits on the amount of sugar Americans should eat and drink each day.
The new guidelines, which the USDA and HHS puts out every five years, have been decades in the making, and cap sugar to only 10% of daily calories.
Chatter of the need for a cap on sugar has been circulating among consumers, lawmakers, and public-health advocates since research in the early 2000s first linked our excessive consumption of the stuff with obesity, weight gain, and other health problems — especially in children.
I Word Understanding
Piggybacking off – use existing work or an existing product as a basis or support
Circulating– flow
Advocates– a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy
Excessive consumption– all living beyond our means
Stuff– material
II Have your say
1. Is sugar the enemy?
2. Should you quit soda?
3. How can we incentivize people to do these things?
Things Monetary incentive Non-monetary incentives
Diet
Study English
Be better parents
Help others
Stop smoking
Read
4. Should governments pay people to diet to save healthcare costs?
5. What should schools teach kids about healthy diets and weight?
6. Are dietary habits changing in your country?
