Cookies and candy are latest victims of climate crisis as sugar prices surge

[Coventina]

The climate crisis has been previously identified as a threat to coffee and beer, and its impact could now be stretching to another of life’s joys: dessert.

The global cost of sugar has surged to its highest level since 2011 following concerns of underproduction rates from India, which has experienced an extreme dry spell that has threatened crops, and Thailand, which is facing a severe drought. The two countries are the largest exporters of sugar, after Brazil.


Rising global temperatures – 2023 is expected to be widely confirmed as the hottest year ever recorded – are fueling droughts and other extreme weather that affect food yields, including that of sugar. The price hike has already started to filter down to chocolate, sweets and other desserts.

US consumers saw prices for sugar and sweets rise by 8.9% in 2023 and a 5.6% increase is expected this year, according to the US Department of Agriculture, which is well above historical averages. In November, Mondelēz, a sprawling business that includes Cadbury, Oreos and Toblerone among its brands, warned of price increases for its products.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/05/climate-crisis-drought-sugar-cost-impact

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Maybe now Americans will care about Climate Change.



(Admittedly, I have a sweet tooth myself).

[CrispyQ]

1. I've thought about stocking up on maple syrup, which I LOVE.

But I eat plenty of plain sugar, too! Cookies, pies, cakes. I have a wicked sweet tooth.

The frozen fruit juice concentrate section of my grocer has gone from four shelves with all sorts of varieties to one shelf with apple, grape, pineapple, & orange, which is often out of stock. No more apple-cherry or apple-raspberry. I used to make the most wonderful pink lemonade with real lemons & sweetened with raspberry concentrate. I wondered if climate change was the reason?

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. It wont just be desserts.

A multitude of crap on our shelves are filled with sugar, including milk. This will hurt more than those who eat Oreo's.

[Wonder Why]

4. Natural sugar in real products wouldn't be affected. Processed food

like everything from most peanut butters to Italian dressing to soups and so much more, have added sugars. So, while you are right about sugars in non oreos, it's not milk that's the real problem.

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. I know, but milk is the first thing that came to mind. However, if you drink 2% milk, it is

filled with sugar to make it taste better.

[Wonder Why]

8. Interesting because I never hear of that. I did some research and found no evidence of added sugar

in 2% milk except in flavored milks like chocolate milk. Can you show me some evidence? I don't dispute your comment if you can show me that.

Evidence of added sugar would be sugars in excess of 12g of natural sugar per gallon, any mention of "added sugar" in the ingredients list (which would be required by law) or any evidence of additional items such as corn syrup or other sources of sugar (also required by law).

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. As my pawpaw would say "Well dog my cats".

You sent me down a rabbit hole of information for which I thank you. I had been told (or assumed) all my life that the sugar in milk was added for flavor. I now know, thanks to YOU, that I have been very incorrect in my thinking all these years.
THANK YOU FOR ENLIGHTENING ME!!

[2naSalit]

3. I am glad...

That I have been able to break my addiction to sugar. It has saved me a lot of money.

Maybe this will get the attention of some who are oblivious to the problem.

[Maru Kitteh]

5. Until global meat consumption falls it will continue.

Or we find two additional “M-class” planets to devour and destroy to satiate our appetites.

[elocs]

7. Good, because sugar is a poison.

I haven't used sugar in over 3 years now and I'm much healthier for it. Sugar is our national addiction which gets a pass with the excuse, "oh I have a sweet tooth". What would we think of a meth head saying, "oh I have a meth tooth" (more likely less teeth). And "natural" is a dog that don't hunt because snake venom and poison ivy are natural too and not even good taken in moderation. High fructose corn syrup is not natural at all but it's in so many foods. But sugar deserves a stake through its heart.

[Stargazer99]

10. Scientist made a test between sugar and meth in rats

after pulling both away from the rats they gave the ability to have sugar or drugs...guess what the rats went for....it wasn't the drugs. Tells you corporate america is willing to make you a druggie for profits only the druggie is sugar!