ICYMI: New Study Shows Public Support For Sugar Warning Labels, Experts Push Albany to Pass Sweet Truth Act

NEW YORK, NY (08/17/2026) (readMedia)-- ALBANY, NY - This week, researchers from the Center for Science in the Public Interest co-published a new study revealing major public support for new added-sugar warning label policies at chain restaurant menus, in response to New York City's nation-leading Sweet Truth Act first implemented in 2024. Excessive sugar intake is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, some of New York's leading causes of death, and more than 50% of US adults have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes Findings confirm strong support for clear warning labels for menu items high in added sugar, especially among people with prediabetes and those trying to reduce their added sugar consumption.

Read the full study here.

The study underscores the urgent need for New York's proposed Sweet Truth Act (S427/A5305), which would alert customers to high sugar levels in restaurant foods and spur more effective sugar reduction efforts in the restaurant sector. Key takeaways include:

• Added Sugar Intake Remains High Above Recommend Levels: More than 60% of U.S. adults exceed the recommended limit of 10% of daily calories from added sugar, and over half of American adults now live with prediabetes (44%) or type 2 diabetes (14%). Because restaurants are not required to disclose added sugar information consumers currently have little way to know how much added sugar is in the meals they order.
• Popular Support for Transparent Menu Labeling Policies: In a national survey of over 15,000 U.S. adults, 72% overall supported a policy requiring added-sugar warning labels on chain restaurant menus. Support was a clear majority - ranging from 54% to 87% - across every demographic and health subgroup studied, while opposition never exceeded 19% in any group.
• High-Added Sugar Warning Labels Promote Consumer Awareness: Prior experimental research cited in the study shows that added-sugar warning labels are an effective tool for helping consumers understand the nutritional content of restaurant food, correcting common misperceptions about which items are high in sugar, and reducing the amount of added sugar in what people order. Researchers also note that these labels could motivate restaurants themselves to reformulate menu items to contain less added sugar.