WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded an announcement from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on an updated approach to food labeling which exempts pure, single-ingredient foods like honey and maple sugar products from labels that confusingly claim “added sugar”. The FDA had stated the change was meant to help consumers be aware of the amount of sugar they are consuming, but maple and honey producers expressed concerns that the new labels could mislead consumers into believing that sugar was added after harvesting. In his statement, Commissioner Gottlieb said that the final guidance regarding pure, single-ingredient foods could be expected early next year.

“There’s only one word to describe today’s announcement: sweet! The FDA’s final policy will reflect common sense – that if sugar is not added to a product, there is no need to include an ‘added sugar’ label,” said Senator King. “This is a welcome result for Maine honey and maple producers who work hard to create their foods, and for consumers who will be saved from extra confusion as they shop for pure, natural products. I’m grateful for the FDA’s willingness to engage with stakeholders and lawmakers in pursuit of a better policy, and look forward to evaluating the final proposal.”

Senator King has strongly opposed this proposed regulation, and in June spoke on the Senate floor to urge the FDA to reconsider its approach. Earlier this month Senator King discussed this issue at the farm of Peter Cowin, also known as the Bee Whisperer. While at Cowin’s farm in Hampden, Senator King received a demonstration of the honey-making process, from honeycomb to bottle, with no sugar added. He also met with MaryAnne Kinney, a state legislator from Knox who also owns Kinney’s Sugarhouse, in Washington to discuss the impact this proposal would have on maple producers, and cosigned a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the FDA, urging the agency to exempt honey and maple products from the regulation.