August 7, 2019
Food Business News reported on a panel discussion moderated by Sugar Association President and CEO Courtney Gaine, PhD, at the 36th annual International Sweetener Symposium held August 6, 2019, in Asheville, NC. The panel addressed recent consumer research around wellness, balance and perceptions about sugar.
Reporter Ron Sterk highlights the research presented by Mintel Consulting and Quadrant Strategies showing that consumers are focusing more on the ides of wellness and balance and moving away from restrictive concepts such as dieting and moderation. The findings also show that while consumers are confused about sugar and food in general and don’t necessarily know what “healthy” is, they tend to have a positive view of sugar.
Read the full article at: https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/14266-consumers-focusing-on-wellness-balance
March 22, 2026
"The Feeding the Economy report affirms the vital role food and agriculture play in our nation’s economic resilience and food security. Commercial bakers have long been proud partners to American agriculture, sourcing 85 percent of their core ingredients from domestic farmers....Sponsoring organizations from the food and agriculture industries, who helped make the 2026 study possible, provided commentary on this year’s findings. The full list of sponsoring organizations includes: ...The Sugar Association"
March 10, 2026
"Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the Sugar Association, a scientific body that supports the U.S. sugar industry, told the USDA Outlook Forum that the school meal standards taking effect next year might prohibit added sugars in kindergarten meals and could significantly restrict them in other grades. That change alone would cut sugar demand by over 130,000 short tons. The industry faces additional pressure from rising GLP-1 weight-loss drug usage, which jumped from 12% in May 2024 to 18% in November 2025, though Gaine cautioned it remains "premature to assess the impact."
March 3, 2026
"Gaine added, "There is no data to support all this." She said the focus on added sugar is often politically motivated, but food groups have not pushed back on the MAHA pressure. There is a lot of fear of retaliation, and for good reason they have not wanted to push back publicly," Gaine said. "I think it’s going to demand a coordinated, really coordinated, pushing back. Any effort up (until) now has been to go along to get along, and I don’t know if that’s going to work."
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