In 1900, sugar was a luxury for most Indians. The majority of the rural population consumed gur (jaggery) or khandsari (unrefined sugar) in small quantities, and refined white sugar was rare and expensive.
Based on British India trade records and agricultural output data (Colonial Statistical Abstracts, compiled by Tirthankar Roy, Economic History of India), the consumption in India in 1900 was less than 2 kg per person.
By 1950, with the establishment of modern sugar mills (beginning in the 1930s), per capita consumption had modestly increased but remained low compared to Western countries. The growth was primarily urban-centric.
• For comparison:
• India (1950): ~5 kg/person/year
• USA (1950): ~40–45 kg/person/year (USDA Historical Data)
Trend Summary:
• 1900–1950: Slow rise, mostly due to jaggery/gur.
• Post-1950: Industrial production, urbanisation, and processed foods began pushing sugar consumption higher.
• 2000s onward: Sharp rise with processed food and soft drink consumption.
In 2000, per capita sugar consumption in India was around 18 kg/year (FAOSTAT, 2000).
By 2023, it jumped to 24.5 kg/year — a 36% increase (Indian Sugar Mills Association, ISMA, 2023).
• India is now one of the world’s largest consumers of sugar, driven not just by traditional sweets but by a surge in processed foods, soft drinks, and packaged snacks.
• Alarmingly, India also ranks among the top 3 countries for diabetes prevalence, with over 101 million diabetics (ICMR–INDIAB Study, 2023).
Dr. Anoop Misra, Fortis C-DOC, Delhi:
“Sugar hides in everything — biscuits, ketchups, packaged juices, snacks — even in so-called ‘healthy’ breakfast cereals. Most urban Indians are consuming double their recommended daily sugar intake without realising it.”
United States — Still the Sugar Capital of the World
• Despite a slight decline since its peak in the 1990s, the average American still consumes 95–110 pounds of added sugars annually — about 43–50 kg per year (USDA, 2023).
• That equals 17–22 teaspoons per day, far exceeding the AHA recommended limit (6–9 teaspoons).
• Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) remain the #1 source of added sugars, making up 30–40% of sugar intake (CDC, 2023).
• Ultra-processed foods account for 60–70% of daily calories, much of it from hidden sugars (BMJ, 2023).
Global Trends
• Global sugar consumption has increased by over 40% in the past three decades (FAO, 2023).
• Worldwide, average sugar intake exceeds WHO recommendations in over 80% of countries (WHO Sugar Reduction Global Report, 2023).
• Countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have seen the fastest growth, fueled by aggressive marketing by beverage and processed food industries.
• The Global Burden of Disease Study (Lancet, 2023) listed high sugar consumption among the top five dietary risk factors for early death worldwide.
Where Does Sugar Hide? The Sneaky Sources You Don’t Expect
• Packaged Breads & Buns (including whole wheat and “multigrain”)
• Flavoured Yogurts — often marketed as healthy, but can contain 15–20g sugar per serving
• Breakfast Cereals & Granola — some have 25–40% sugar by weight
• Ketchup, Sauces & Salad Dressings — a tablespoon of ketchup can have 4g sugar
• Packaged Fruit Juices & Sports Drinks — often with 10–15g sugar per 100 ml
• Protein Bars & “Energy” Snacks — can contain up to 20g added sugar per bar
• Instant Oats & Flavoured Drinks — hiding multiple teaspoons of sugar
WHO (2023):
“Over 60% of packaged foods globally contain added sugars — regardless of taste profile.”
The Horrifying Consequences of Excess Sugar Intake
Obesity Epidemic
• Sugar, especially fructose, promotes visceral fat accumulation (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2024).
• Obesity rates have tripled since 1980, with sugar intake a key driver.
Type 2 Diabetes Explosion
• India, USA, China now have over 500 million diabetics collectively (IDF Diabetes Atlas, 2023).
• Regular consumption of sugary beverages increases diabetes risk by 26% (BMJ Meta-analysis, 2022).
Heart Disease and Hypertension
• High sugar intake is linked to increased triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and arterial inflammation (AHA Scientific Statement, 2024).
• Consuming 25% or more of daily calories from sugar doubles the risk of dying from heart disease (JAMA Internal Medicine, 2023).
Fatty Liver Disease
• Sugar, particularly high fructose corn syrup, contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now affecting 1 in 4 adults globally (Lancet Gastroenterology, 2023).
Cancer Risk
• Excessive sugar intake fuels obesity, which is linked to increased risk of 13 different cancers, including breast, colon, and pancreatic (American Cancer Society, 2023).
Cognitive Decline & Mental Health
• High sugar diets are associated with depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment (JAMA Psychiatry, 2023).
The Bottom Line: Sugar Is the New Tobacco
• Hidden, addictive, and aggressively marketed, sugar is now labeled a “global health threat” by the World Health Organization.
• Efforts like sugar taxes, front-of-pack warning labels, and marketing restrictions are growing, but public awareness still lags.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian (Tufts University, 2024):
“Sugar is the single most harmful ingredient in the modern diet — because it’s everywhere and because we underestimate its effects.”
References:
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – INDIAB Study, 2023
• Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) Report, 2023
• USDA Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook, 2023
• American Heart Association, Scientific Statement, 2024
• CDC National Health and Nutrition Report, 2023
• World Health Organization Global Report on Sugar, 2023
• The Lancet Global Burden of Disease Study, 2023
• BMJ Meta-Analysis on Sugar and Health Risks, 2022
• JAMA Internal Medicine, Sugar and Heart Disease Risk, 2023
• Harvard School of Public Health Sugar Research Summary, 2024
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