Dear Editor,
Many of us do not realise that sugar is not so sweet anymore, as there are substances widely available for less than $2,000 per pound in the market, and 600 times sweeter than sugar, being used to sweeten foods and drink, while cane sugar is used minimally to cover the ingredients track list.
Have you ever had a drink that tastes very sweet while a label says “no sugar added”; they are absolutely right. Those additives that give a sweet taste they actually trick your taste buds. They are called “sweeteners”, some of which scientific research has demonstrated can predispose individuals to serious health risks like cancer. An education campaign needs to start immediately to get to people to understand that sugar is not so sweet anymore and, used in moderation, could very well be a health food when compared to sweeteners.
This could be bolstered by regulation of such substances by the ministries of health and industry because it cannot be that large and small manufacturers of boxed, bottled, tinned juices, jams, jellies, ice cream are passing off drinks to the unsuspecting consumers thinking those items are sweetened by cane sugar, as opposed to the little man making bag juices in his yard.
Artificial sweeteners should be regulated as a pharmaceutical to protect the population’s health.The sugar industry, at the same time, should be developing new products, new rums and biofuel for that industry to survive.
Michael Spence
Liguanea PO, St Andrew
micspen2@hotmail.com
Many of us do not realise that sugar is not so sweet anymore, as there are substances widely available for less than $2,000 per pound in the market, and 600 times sweeter than sugar, being used to sweeten foods and drink, while cane sugar is used minimally to cover the ingredients track list.
Have you ever had a drink that tastes very sweet while a label says “no sugar added”; they are absolutely right. Those additives that give a sweet taste they actually trick your taste buds. They are called “sweeteners”, some of which scientific research has demonstrated can predispose individuals to serious health risks like cancer. An education campaign needs to start immediately to get to people to understand that sugar is not so sweet anymore and, used in moderation, could very well be a health food when compared to sweeteners.
This could be bolstered by regulation of such substances by the ministries of health and industry because it cannot be that large and small manufacturers of boxed, bottled, tinned juices, jams, jellies, ice cream are passing off drinks to the unsuspecting consumers thinking those items are sweetened by cane sugar, as opposed to the little man making bag juices in his yard.
Artificial sweeteners should be regulated as a pharmaceutical to protect the population’s health.The sugar industry, at the same time, should be developing new products, new rums and biofuel for that industry to survive.
Michael Spence
Liguanea PO, St Andrew
micspen2@hotmail.com