I am quite aware of the ups and mostly downs of sugar (I thank Dr Lustig's bitter truth for that), but I am still missing the whole picture. Ok, so I know that sugar has a dark history of slavery and cutting down rainforests (read a little bit on the colonial history of Brazil and you'll be amazed). Today sugar is one of the mostly subsidized products in Europe. Regarding the subsidies, I ask myself why? If Europe is to subsidize something, why not subsidize something that contribute to human health, not destroy it. What use do we have of sugar in case we could not get other foods? And one more point, I am not so sure the recent tax on sugar is only about saving our health. The state is desperate to get its tax incomes, just as desperate as the population is to get its sugar. Easy and quick fix: reduce income tax (people presumably happy with more money in their pocket) and increase sugar tax (you know they'll continue buying, just as they do with the alcohol... but the income reduction won't be as obvious...the state is not stupid).
Anyways, back to the topic. I found a new book today. Correction, I found a very old book today. Published already back in 1975! And this is a book I'd like to read, at some point. Sugar Blues by William Dufty. A classic. If you have the time and are interested in the topic have a look at his extract in the link below.
Sugar, the sweetest poison of all
And while you're at it, you might like to see how brown sugar became refined sugar, have a look below.
And let's give Norbert Rillieux a big cozy hug! Not only for saving the lives of millions of slaves, but because he facilitated sugar consumption and made the white stuff the most demanded drug on our planet! Hooray for the greatest invetions in our history!
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