The World Health Organization wants you to stop eating so much sugar . Seriously . In draft guidelines proposed this week , WHO is encouraging people to consume less than 5 % of their total daily calories from sugars . The organization 's current guidelines , published in 2002 , recommend eating less than 10 % of your total daily calories from sugars . Most Americans still consume much more . Our sweet tooth increased 39 % between 1950 and 2000 , according to the USDA . The average American now consumes about three pounds of sugar each week . `` There is increasing concern that consumption of free sugars , particularly in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages , may result in ... an increase in total caloric intake , leading to an unhealthy diet , weight gain and increased risk of noncommunicable diseases , '' WHO said in a statement . Of particular concern , WHO said , is the role sugar plays in causing dental diseases worldwide . For an adult at a normal body mass index , or BMI , eating 5 % would be around 25 grams of sugar -- or six teaspoons . That 's less than is typically found in a single can of regular soda , which contains about 40 grams of sugar . Real or fake sugar : Does it matter ? To find the amount of calories from sugar in a product , multiply the grams by 4 . For example , a product containing 15 grams of sugar has 60 calories from sugar per serving , according to the American Heart Association . If you eat 2,000 calories a day , that 's 3 % . WHO 's proposed guidelines apply to sugars added to foods by manufacturers , as well as those found naturally in honey , syrups , fruit juices and fruit concentrates . They do not apply to those found in fresh produce . `` Much of the sugars consumed today are 'hidden ' in processed foods that are not usually seen as sweets , '' the WHO website states . Did you know sugar is often added to your frozen pizza ? How about your bread , soup , yogurt and mayonnaise ? As consumers became more concerned about the amount of fat in their food , manufacturers went out of their way to make low-fat items -- often substituting sugar to preserve the taste . Choosing foods with fewer added sugars at the grocery story may soon get a little easier . The Food and Drug Administration has proposed several changes to the nutrition labels you see on packaged foods and beverages . The proposed labels would also note how much added sugar is in a product . Right now , it 's hard to know what is naturally occurring sugar and what has been added by the manufacturer . The WHO guidelines will be open for public comment until March 31 . Then WHO will finalize and publish its recommendations .
USDA proposes new guidelines for sugar consumption . WHO says we should eat 5 % of our total today calories from sugars . For an adult with a normal BMI , less than 5 % is about three pounds of sugar . Of big concern is the role sugars play in causing dental diseases worldwide .