Sugar Industry Sues over “Corn Sugar” Label
According to the Associated Press, “Big Sugar” is going after the Corn Refiners Association and its membership – which includes other heavy-weight companies like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland.
The reason?
The Corn Refiners Association asked the federal government last year for permission to use the name “corn sugar” on food labels, hoping to improve its image and clear up confusion. The Food and Drug Administration could take two years to decide but that didn’t stop the industry from using the term in advertising right away.
It launched an extensive marketing campaign, including websites, television and print commercials to spread the new name and counter concerns about the sweetener.
“This suit is about false advertising, pure and simple,” said Inder Mathur, President and CEO of Western Sugar Cooperative, which represents about 1,000 American sugar beet farmers. “If consumers are concerned about your product, then you should improve it or explain its benefits, not try to deceive people about its name or distort scientific facts.”
It’s like Godzilla vs. Rodan… no matter who wins, consumers still lose. Americans are chugging down an estimated 22 extra teaspoons of sugar/day – those are empty calories, regardless of the source.
May 6, 2011
That’s the problem. There is big money in sugar these days because of the “need” felt by us Americans to consume so much.
Personaly, I don’t care what they call it or who wins this battle. I’m going to stay as far away from their product as I can.