According to the USDA, people consuming 2,000 calories a day should eat no more than about 10 teaspoons of added sugar. But USDA surveys show that the average American is consuming about 20 teaspoons of sugar per day. Soft drinks, which contain about nine teaspoons of sugar per 12-ounce can, are a leading contributor to increased sugar consumption. Since 1942, when the American Medical Association (AMA) expressed concern about sweetened carbonated beverages, candy, and other foods rich in sugar but poor in nutrients, soft-drink consumption has increased about seven-fold (excluding diet soda), and overall sugar consumption has increased by one-third. “With all the focus on fat, we’ve forgotten about sugar. It’s time to rethink our national infatuation with sweets,” concludes Jacobson.
