Understanding What is the FDA Recommended Added Sugar Intake

November 2, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the FDA, the Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day, based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Understanding what is the FDA recommended added sugar intake is essential for managing your diet and improving overall health.

Quick Summary

The FDA sets the Daily Value for added sugars at 50 grams per day, limiting them to less than 10% of total daily calories based on a 2,000-calorie diet. This guideline empowers consumers to make healthier food choices by understanding nutrition labels.

Key Points

FDA Daily Value: Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, the Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day.
Dietary Guidelines Recommendation: Health experts recommend limiting added sugars to less than 10% of total daily calories.
Read the Label: The 'Includes Added Sugars' line and %DV on the Nutrition Facts label help identify and track your intake.
Added vs. Natural Sugars: Added sugars are different from natural sugars found in whole foods like fruits and milk, which offer nutritional benefits.
Associated Health Risks: High added sugar consumption is linked to weight gain, increased blood pressure, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
Limit Processed Foods: Major sources of added sugar include sugary drinks, desserts, and processed snacks.
Check Ingredients: Common names for added sugar include corn syrup, dextrose, and honey, often found on the ingredients list.

What Defines Added Sugar?

Added sugars are sweeteners added during food processing, packaging, or found in syrups and honey. They differ from naturally occurring sugars in foods like fruits and milk. Common sources of added sugar include sugar-sweetened beverages, baked goods, desserts, processed snacks, and many other packaged foods.

The FDA's Daily Value for Added Sugars

While the FDA doesn't set an RDA, it provides a Daily Value (DV) of 50 grams for added sugars based on a 2,000-calorie diet, which is less than 10% of total daily calories. This DV helps consumers track intake, noting that individual needs vary with calorie intake.

How to Read the Nutrition Facts Label

Use the updated Nutrition Facts label to manage added sugar intake. Look for the 'Includes Added Sugars' line and its %DV. A %DV of 5% or less is low, while 20% or more is high. Also, check the ingredients list for sugar names like sucrose or corn syrup.

FDA vs. American Heart Association: A Comparison

The FDA's DV provides a benchmark, while organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA) offer stricter limits for heart health.


Feature	FDA/Dietary Guidelines	American Heart Association (AHA)
Reference Limit	Less than 10% of total daily calories (50g for a 2,000-calorie diet)	Women: No more than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons); Men: No more than 36 grams (about 9 teaspoons)
Primary Goal	To assist consumers in making informed food choices based on labeling.	To proactively guide heart health and reduce cardiovascular risk.
Flexibility	Provides a benchmark percentage for varied calorie needs.	Offers specific, lower-gram targets for gender-based calorie assumptions.

Health Risks of Exceeding Recommended Intake

Excessive added sugar intake is linked to weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and increased risks of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It can also contribute to fatty liver disease.

How to Reduce Your Added Sugar Intake

Reduce added sugar intake by choosing water or unsweetened drinks, prioritizing whole foods with natural sugars, cooking at home, gradually reducing added sugar in food and drinks, and checking ingredient lists for hidden sugars.

Conclusion

Understanding what is the FDA recommended added sugar intake and utilizing the Nutrition Facts label's Daily Value of 50 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet are key steps for healthier eating. Focusing on whole foods and being mindful of hidden sugars can significantly benefit long-term health. For more details, see {Link: FDA website https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/added-sugars-nutrition-facts-label}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day, based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet. Your individual needs may vary based on your total caloric intake.

Total sugars on a nutrition label include all sugars, both those that occur naturally in a food and those that were added. Added sugars are specified separately to help consumers track discretionary calories.

Look for the "Includes Added Sugars" line under the "Total Sugars" on the Nutrition Facts label. You can also check the ingredients list for terms like corn syrup, dextrose, or sucrose.

No. While the FDA provides a 50g DV, other organizations like the American Heart Association offer stricter limits, such as 36g for men and 25g for women, to reduce cardiovascular risk.

The main sources of added sugars are sugar-sweetened beverages, baked goods, desserts, and sweet snacks. Less obvious sources include sauces, cereals, and sweetened yogurts.

Yes. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that children under 2 years old consume no foods or beverages with added sugars. For children 2 and older, intake should be limited to less than 10% of total daily calories.

Excessive intake of added sugars is linked to a higher risk of weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and an increased risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Not at all. The guidelines are for managing your intake, not eliminating all sweets. The goal is to limit intake to manage calorie consumption and make healthier choices, such as prioritizing nutrient-dense whole foods.

Natural sugars in whole foods like fruits and vegetables are digested more slowly due to fiber and other nutrients. This prevents a rapid blood sugar spike and is considered part of a healthy diet, unlike highly concentrated added sugars.