What's the deal with sugar?

sneakierbiscuit

Sugar isn't "hidden" in processed foods. Doesn't anybody read the label? I read the labels, and it will clearly state whether sugar, honey, sucrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, etc. is an ingredient. You can get an idea of how much might be in the product by noting its position in the ingredients list (since ingredients are listed from the most to the least). You can also read the nutrition information label, which will clearly list the amount of sugars.

How hard is that? We don't need government intervention aside from labelling laws. Geez. High fructose corn syrup has been shown to be processed differently in the body, and has worse health effects than normal syrup. Perhaps some incentive to stop using HFCS...

A tax on sugar is a ridiculous idea. People are biologically attracted to sugar, so much so that extra cost isn't going to make a huge difference in consumption. And it's not the government's role to act as health nanny for the nation. Information, sure, if its deemed in the public interest. But taxing items doesn't solve a problem. Just look at cigarettes. If something's that bad, either make it illegal or let it alone. Even heavily taxing items like cigarettes doesn't stop people smoking. It just means the government is profiting from something it deems harmful. That's not nice, even if the money's funnelled into health programs (that may or may not work.)

The best way to make a change is through public pressure. It's a market-driven economy. If enough people want reduced sugar in foods, companies will offer it.

All the same, I'd rather sugar than artificial sweeteners, and just eat in moderation. I'm not a fan of artificial fillers and whatnot in my food. I want real food ingredients.

And no, I don't think people need to be "educated" about the dangers of excess sugar intake, at least not in the schooling system. Any sensible person knows that eating lots of sugary foods is bad for your teeth, your weight, and general health. It's something that should be addressed by your physician at check-ups. The information isn't hard to come by. Health websites have the info right there.