But food is shipped all over the place, and when food gets too old, much of the sugar turns to starch. The natural sweetness is gone, and people sugar food to give it flavor. As yet, no scientist has established any limits for sugar consumption. A 1986 FDA report estimated that sugars added to food accounted for 11 percent of calories consumed. D.C. People may consume many of their calories each day from a sugary soft drink or candy bar.
People are better off having an apple as a snack than a candy bar.
Over the last several decades, sugar has taken on the villain's role in the American diet. But, in fact, added sugar at current levels is not detrimental to health. According to the landmark 1986 FDA Report of Sugars Task Force, sugar, when consumed normal or moderate quantities, cannot be linked to any disease, nor does it create a dependency. Walter Glinsmann, M.D., FDA's associate director for clinical nutrition and senior author of the task force report, explains that members of the task force estimated the intake figures and trends of both added and naturally occurring sugars, based on USDA data. If there is a significant change in the way Americans consume sugars, he adds, then scientists must reevaluate their role.