December 9, 2020
“Dr. Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the Sugar Association, asserts that this study highlights a significant issue that needs to be addressed by the industry: sugar replacement. “The use of artificial and low- and no-calorie sweeteners in food and beverages has surged more than 300 percent in the last five years,” she states. However, Gaine is concerned that the impact of reducing sugar on the food supply has not been adequately studied and modeled. “Sugar can’t easily be removed or reduced from products because one to several ingredients are needed to replace it and replicate its taste profile and functionality. So, the short- and long-term effects of the added sugars labeling requirement in the US is entirely unknown.” Ultimately, reduced sugar doesn’t necessarily mean reduced calories, Gaine emphasizes. “Many times, it has the opposite effect. We need to stop and think: ‘What is the goal of reducing added sugars?’ and if there is an agreed-upon goal, ‘What is the best way to get there?’”
Read the full article at: https://www.nutritioninsight.com/news/sweetener-safety-in-spotlight-after-study-links-stevia-to-gut-microbial-imbalance.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."
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