“International Confectionery magazine is proud to announce that Courtney Gaine, Ph.D., R.D., President and CEO of the Sugar Association (Washington, D.C.), has been appointed as a judge for the International Confectionery Awards, one of the industry’s most respected celebrations of excellence and innovation in confectionery.
Dr. Gaine has led the Sugar Association since January 2016, combining a passion for baking and science with a mission to educate the public about sugar’s role in a balanced diet. Her career reflects deep commitment to bridging the gap between food science, nutrition, and consumer understanding. She has served as President of the Home Baking Association Board of Directors (2019–2022) and as Chairman of the World Sugar Research Organization Board of Directors (2021–2023).
Dr. Gaine commented: “I have always viewed my work at the Sugar Association and the impact we are trying to have as a marathon, not a sprint. There are generations with a fear of real sugar because the dialogue they have been exposed to has been a sensational one, with basic facts on sugar and its role in a balanced diet missing. While it can be daunting to think about the educational challenges ahead, I am excited to see that Americans increasingly want information that helps them make smart dietary choices.””
Read the full article here: https://in-confectionery.com/courtney-gaine-ph-d-r-d-appointed-judge-for-international-confectionery-awards/
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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