June 30, 2023
The Sugar Association recently released findings from a consumer survey demonstrating consumers remain interested in knowing where real sugar comes from and how much of it they can eat.
“This survey confirms a growing trend of consumers are looking for accurate, meaningful information about nutrition, including how much sugar fits into a balanced diet,” Sugar Association President and CEO Courtney Gaine, PhD, RD said. “The past decade has brought a loud and confusing dialogue around sugar, and it is clear consumers are looking for less noise and more practical information and guidance. The narrative that is out there has had a profound impact on consumers — making it difficult to counter with actual data. For example, USDA data show added sugars consumption is down about 30 percent since 2000. However, when asked, the majority of consumers don’t believe we consume less sugar than we did 20 years ago. This is the challenge we are up against; however, these findings are reassuring that consumers are open and eager to engage in this dialogue and learn more about the facts surrounding sugar.”
Read the full article here: https://www.thefencepost.com/news/new-research-shows-consumers-are-looking-for-facts-on-real-sugar/
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."
© 2026 The Sugar Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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