Abstract
Sugars have a long history of safe use in foods. Placed on the Food and Drug Administration's list of foods that are "generally recognized as safe" in 1958, sugars and the health aspects of sugar consumption continue to be evaluated. Recent research has focused on several potential sugars and health relationships, sugar consumption and nutritional quality of the diet, recommendations for sugars or added sugar intake, and the utility of the glycemic index and glycemic load. The data are not clear-cut, although experts generally agree that dietary guidance focusing on calorie control, without singling out one food or nutrient, is essential to addressing the prevalence of obesity.