Is it Time to Treat Sugar Like Cigarettes?

So, yesterday, I was working outside at one of my favorite cafés in NYC, enjoying the unique setup where you can move tables and chairs around on the street. I was happily working away, sipping on my perfectly brewed long black, when I noticed a young man finish his cigarette and toss it to the ground. If you want to see me get fired up… stick around for this.

I took a deep breath and said, (what I thought was politely, but in reality probably was not) “Do you mind putting that in the bin?”

He looked around, pointed to other cigarette butts on the ground, and said, “It’s NYC.”

I asked, “Would you throw other rubbish on the ground?”

He replied, “No, but that’s different.”

Initially, I planned to write today’s newsletter about the dangers of sugar, inspired by a recent article in Time Magazine titled: It’s Time to Treat Sugar Like Cigarettes. However, this encounter made me think about some things. This bloke was probably a good guy at heart, but he, like so many in our society, does not like the idea of throwing rubbish on the ground, but for some reason it is acceptable to do the opposite with cigarettes. We’re okay with it, just because it’s been around for so long we’re desensitized to it.

Just as we need to change our perception and behavior around cigarette disposal, we also need to rethink our consumption of sugar. I’ve always created recipes that are free of refined sugar to support your health and well-being, but beyond that, we need to change how we view and treat sugar in our daily lives.

So, what’s the big deal with sugar? 

The FDA says adults should stick to no more than 50 grams of added sugar a day. But guess what? The average American is munching down almost 3x that amount—about a third of a pound of sugar daily! If you do the math, that’s over 100 pounds of sugar per person per year. No wonder nearly half of American adults are either diabetic or pre-diabetic.

Tons of research show that too much sugar isn’t just bad for our waistlines; it’s linked to serious health issues like chronic diseases, fatigue, anxiety, memory loss, ADHD, and even a shorter life span. Nearly 74% of packaged foods in the U.S. have added sugar, including things you’d never expect like salad dressings, coleslaw, baked beans, marinades, and yogurt. Some yogurts pack in more sugar than a can of soda!

Big food companies are playing a game of hide and seek with sugar, using complex terms that only scientists can decipher. Here are some of the names to look out for:

How do we break the cycle?

The cycle of sugar consumption is all too familiar: eating leads to a sugar spike, we feel good for a short time, then we crash, crave more sugar, and repeat. Front-of-package labeling is just the start. We also need to push for healthier alternatives that are just as tasty and accessible as sugary options. The USDA’s new standards limiting added sugars in school meals are a great start for kids, but we need broader measures for everyone else. Clear labeling will help us make better choices and encourage producers to create healthier options.

As a chef, I have a responsibility to educate about food and its origins. The best thing we can do is make decisions to avoid refined sugar. Choose honey or maple syrup over sugar. Skip the syrup in your coffee. Make my homemade granola from Eat Like a Legend instead of buying the store-bought version with added sugar. When you know the impact of sugar not only on yourself but on those around you, make intentional choices. Control the controllable.

On an individual level, it’s important to understand that the odds are stacked against us, so we need to make an extra effort to learn and make positive choices. And that’s your step 1.

Cheers, mate!

Dan

PS. Bonus points if you can guess the cafe in NOHO :)