Dear Food Brands,
I’ve got something to discuss with you. But first, let me share a little story.
The other day, while wandering the grocery aisles, I was on the hunt for yogurt—something flavorful but not so packed with sugar that it might as well be a dessert. Here’s what I found:
- Plain (which is like eating sour cream, unless it’s fat-free, and then it’s just bland)
- Yogurt loaded with a ridiculous amount of sugar
- The “sugar-free” options (which are just full of artificial sweeteners)
- A few healthy brands that are way too pricey for a family of four
So, I was left with the frustrating choice between sugary, sugar-free, or overly expensive options. After some contemplation, I opted for the pricier brand, knowing that my family would quickly finish it, and I would have to buy more. If only a mainstream brand would offer yogurt with less sugar instead of packing it with artificial sweeteners.
I often try to get ambitious and go for plain, whole-fat yogurt, adding my own fresh fruit or a hint of honey. But honestly? I have a busy life to lead.
I face similar challenges when picking out cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, or other packaged foods. I scrutinize the ingredients in salsa, marinara sauce, sausages, canned soups, and fruit cups. Unfortunately, many of these items are brimming with unnecessary sugar.
Now, here comes the crux of my complaint: Food brands, why are you inundating your products with excessive sugar? Sure, I enjoy a sweet treat now and then, but it’s frustrating to sift through aisles filled with items drowning in syrup. We all know that added sugar is unhealthy—this isn’t new information.
It seems that you’re well aware of how to tweak sweetness levels to keep us hooked and purchasing your products. It’s as if you’re banking on our cravings to keep us coming back for more, even adding sugar to things that absolutely don’t need it, like salsa. I’ve made my own salsa that easily outshines any store-bought version, and it has zero sugar—so why the excess?
If sugar isn’t for flavor, what’s the reasoning behind adding it? Don’t even try to tell me it’s for color or preservation. There are safer, more natural ways to achieve those goals.
Many parents buy your overly sugary products because they’re the most affordable options. We’re on tight budgets, feeding multiple mouths, and our kids often refuse the plain alternatives. We don’t have the time to whip up our own healthy versions, so we reluctantly grab your sugary offerings.
But here’s the thing: Most parents would prefer to limit their families’ sugar intake. The same moms who are forced to buy your overly sweetened products would still choose your items if you simply reduced the sugar. And please—don’t replace cane sugar with sucralose. We don’t want that either.
Just cut back on the sugar. Consumers will still enjoy your yogurt if it doesn’t taste like a candy bar.
Food brands, you are overlooking a significant opportunity. There’s a growing market of parents who avoid sugary options, no matter how convenient. We’re shaking our heads at your ingredient lists while trying to enjoy healthier alternatives. We wish we could just grab a box of granola bars without worrying that they’re packed with sugar.
And just a heads up: that “25%-less-sugar” option doesn’t count if the sugar is swapped for sucralose! Mothers are savvy consumers, and we’re onto your marketing tricks.
Imagine the marketing potential if one of you major brands decided to take a stand. A campaign that says, “Less sugar, zero artificial sweeteners!” could resonate deeply. Picture it: a touching commercial where a mom feels relieved knowing she can finally provide a healthy choice for her kids without breaking the bank or fostering a sugar addiction.
We are eager for healthier options, so why not deliver? If one of you brands publicly committed to significantly reducing sugar content—while genuinely recognizing that moms are informed consumers—you’d see an influx of support.
So, what’s holding you back? We want less sugary alternatives at the same price as your usual products. We urge you to remove sugar from things like oatmeal, granola bars, cereal, and yogurt, and eliminate it entirely from items that shouldn’t have sugar at all.
We don’t want sugar replaced with sucralose or any other sweetener; just tone down the sweetness. That’s all we’re asking.
We consumers are smarter than you think, especially us moms who do most of the grocery shopping. We’re learning to read labels more carefully and are fed up with the tug-of-war between convenience and healthy choices. So please, meet us halfway and take some of that sugar out of your products.
For more insights on healthy eating and pregnancy, check out this post on Cervical Insemination or delve into the details of at-home insemination kits. For additional support and information, the CDC’s resource on infertility is incredibly informative.
In summary, food brands, we’re asking for healthier products with less sugar, not artificial sweeteners. You have the opportunity to meet the needs of informed consumers, so let’s make it happen!