Italian Radio in Florida Launches the “Know Your Sugar” Campaign

A public awareness initiative to help families recognize added sugars and read the nutrition label. Open to nutritionists, physicians, schools, community organizations, and families.

Palm Harbor, Fla. — August 1, 2026 — Italian Radio in Florida today announced the launch of “Know Your Sugar,” a public awareness campaign about added and refined sugars: how to spot them in the products people buy every day, how to read a nutrition label for what it actually says, and what the leading public health authorities recommend. The campaign is open to participation from nutritionists, registered dietitians, diabetes educators, physicians, schools, community organizations, journalists, and families.

Added sugar consumption has been under sustained scrutiny from public health authorities. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Heart Association recommend staying within 6–9 teaspoons per day for an adult, while national dietary surveys report averages consistently above that. Public health literature associates excess added sugar with increased risk factors for weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Individual outcomes vary, and this campaign does not offer medical advice.

This isn’t about telling people what to eat. It’s about giving them the tools to read a label and understand what ‘added sugar’ actually means for their family. We started asking that question in our own home. When we saw how many other families were asking it too, it seemed right to open it up instead of keeping it to ourselves.”

Fabrizio Ciancio · Director, Italian Radio in Florida

What the campaign includes

Italian Radio in Florida is putting its microphones, its website, and its social channels behind the initiative:

recurring on-air segments on added sugars and label reading;
interviews with dietitians, nutritionists, diabetes educators, and physicians who want to bring their own perspective, citing their own sources;
educational material published on the website and social channels, starting with a practical guide to reading the Nutrition Facts panel;
stories from families who have tried to cut added sugar at home, collected and told on air;
airtime for schools, parishes, and Italian-American organizations that want to host a session on the subject.

There is no cost to participate and no purchase is required.

Who can take part

Registered dietitians, nutritionists, diabetes educators, and physicians willing to explain in plain language what the evidence says about added sugars, citing their own sources.
Schools, parent groups, cultural and community organizations interested in hosting a label-reading session or sharing the campaign with their members.
Journalists, bloggers, and other outlets interested in covering the campaign, interviewing participating experts, or republishing the educational material.
Families and individuals who want to share their own experience.

Anyone interested can write or text using the contact details below.

How the idea started

The subject came into the newsroom with a story on AmoreZero, a Florida brand started by a family from Italy who, unable to find a snack without refined sugar for their daughter, went back to an old family recipe inspired by Italian nougat and remade it using only honey and almonds. That search for a clearer label is where the interest began. The campaign is not tied to any product and makes no health claims on behalf of any brand.

About Italian Radio in Florida

Italian Radio in Florida is a Florida-based radio and television outlet covering news, culture, and community life for the Italian-American audience and beyond. For more information: www.ItalianRadioinFlorida.com

Fabrizio Ciancio
Director, Italian Radio in Florida
+1 (727) 686-8682 (SMS/Text)
info@italianradioinflorida.com
Media contact and campaign participation