Is Big Sugar the new Big Tobacco?

Before the government took preventive action, the tobacco industry was widely advertising smoking cigarettes, with one of their main target markets being kids. By getting kids hooked on their brand of cigarettes at a young age, the better chance they’d keep smoking that brand for the rest of their life. Finally some action was taken against big tobacco to heavily tax cigarettes and provide warnings on packages to give people an incentive to not smoke.

         In this day in age, highly processed foods that are high in sugar are sold cheaply and consumed by many Americans, especially kids. The consumption of these foods can cause many health problems. Obesity and diabetes are huge problems in the U.S. especially with children. In the last 30 years, the number of people who are obese have sky rocketed. With this epidemic there must be preventive steps taken to stop these continuously growing health problems.

These foods can become addicting, which has people choosing these unhealthy foods that are high in added sugar over healthier options. Educating people about the risks to their health from consuming foods that are high in sugar is a step that can be taken without action from the government. The government can take action like it did with the tobacco industry with the sugar industry to create incentives for people to make healthier choices.

Companies selling foods high in added sugar advertise straight to kids. Putting popular cartoon characters and bright colors on the packaging catering to children are meant to get kids to persuade their parents to buy it for them. I think that Big Sugar should be treated like Big Tobacco. Big sugar should be taxed and the effects of eating these foods should be advertised. The government must make it their responsibility to educate the public of the risks of consuming these foods. Big Sugar should be regulated because their products are fueling an epidemic that are going to continue to affect the health of children in America. 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-28/rooney-big-sugar/5050114

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/10/sugar-industry-lies-campaign