New diet rules would take 20% bite out of US sugar use

New York

IF the US government has its way, Americans would cut their consumption of sugar and corn syrup by more than 2 million tonnes a year - the latest blow for a sweetener industry facing an onslaught of criticism over negative health effects.

The US government on Thursday issued new dietary guidelines that suggested for the first time that consumers limit their consumption of added sweeteners at a specific level: less than 10 per cent of a recommended daily intake of about 2,000 calories.

Currently, the average American consumes about 270 calories a day in the form of sweeteners, which is equal to about 13 per cent, the guidelines s…