Sugar making comeback in food products

NEW YORK, March 21 (UPI) -- Sugar is slowly returning as a regular ingredient in food products, supplanting high-fructose corn syrup, a U.S. analyst says.

Mintel International senior analyst Marcia Mogelonsky said while sugar was once a veritable pariah in the U.S. food industry, that negative honor has since been switched over to corn syrup, The New York Times reported Saturday.

"Sugar was the old devil, and high-fructose corn syrup is the new devil," the market research company analyst said.

Data shows that in 2007, the average U.S. adult ate nearly 44 pounds of sugar, compared with nearly 40 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup.

Sugar Association President Andy Briscoe agreed that sugar is making a comeback in products such as Pepsi Natural soda and Healthy Choice All Natural frozen entrees.

Such success has prompted the association to conclude its Sweet by Nature promotional campaign designed to herald the positive aspects of sugar.

"Obviously, demand is moving in the right direction so we are taking a break," Briscoe told the Times.