A new survey shows a majority of customers understand that real sugar comes from plants and is natural, according to the Sugar Association, the scientific arm of the U.S. sugar industry. About 80% of respondents agreed that “real sugar” is naturally occurring. The majority of respondents also agreed that sugar plays a role in a balanced diet. “”The results of this research tell a very different story from what people see and read about sugar in the context of books, fad diets, social media and news headlines,” said Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the association. “Consumers like real sugar, and while many seek to monitor their intakes, they know that they can still enjoy it as part of many foods and see it as part of a healthy diet.”
Read the full article at: https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/research/survey-shows-more-customers-know-sugar-comes-from-plants/article_f0b01db2-fafb-11eb-a222-a75ea0264f1b.html
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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