Hopkins quoted in Press Herald article on changes in sugar labeling
The Portland Press Herald quoted Kathy Hopkins, a maple syrup expert and extension educator at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in an article on changes in FDA labeling. The new rules require maple syrup and honey producers to label their pure products as containing added sugar to comply with updated nutrition guidelines recommending lowering sugar intake to reduce the risk of health problems, according to the Press Herald. This proposed change created a backlash, since maple syrup and honey are naturally high in sugar but do not contain extra sugars added by the producers. “The risk is that consumers are going to possibly misunderstand and think that they’ve been tricked all this time, that they’re not buying a pure product for which they’ve paid an extra price,” Hopkins said. The Bangor Daily News also reported on the labeling change. The Sun Journal, Journal Tribune and The Times Record published the Press Herald report, and The County carried the BDN report.