The Food and Drug Administration has given an unfettered sweet deal to packaged food manufacturers.

Companies initially were told that by July 2018 they would have to put added sugar content on nutritional labels. Now the deadline is pushed to 2020 for big companies; 2021 for smaller ones.

>> Why this matters: A study published in Diabetologia found a strong link between elevated glucose levels and cognitive decline — even if your blood sugar level isn’t high enough to qualify as diabetic.

And added sugars in packaged foods damage your gut biome and promote inflammation that leads to elevated blood glucose. That means the 86 million Americans with prediabetes are at risk for cognitive problems.

>> What you can do: Read ingredients labels, and avoid any food containing: dextrose; brown sugar; powdered sugar; corn syrup; fructose; high-fructose corn syrup; invert sugar; lactose; malt syrup; maltose; molasses; nectars; raw sugar; sucrose; or sugar.

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D., is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email questions to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.