Added sugar curbs could end sweet times for Big Food

Name a food that's advertised on television, in magazines, or on the endcaps at grocery stores. And then look at the ingredients: if nine out of 10 don't have some form of added sugar, it's likely 10 out of 10. According to the American Heart Association, Americans consume nearly 1/2 cup of added sugar a day, or 88 grams; and it's not coming just from soda and candy, but from all our foods. And this week's recommendation, that most adults cut back to about 25 grams of sugar a day, could shake the foundation of the food companies whose bread, butter and honey-cured turkey are built of added sugar.

Anyone who's read their Michael Pollan knows if a food is advertised, it's probably not that good for you. This encompasses everything from the obvious (Fast food, Coca-Cola, Skittles), to the far less obvious (Stonyfield Farms Organic Yogurt, Heinz 57 Barbecue Sauce, Dole Mandarin Oranges, Jif Peanut Butter). All contain significant amounts of added sugar. Here's the thing: processed sugar makes our brains want more.