Janet DiGiovanna

National obesity and diabetes epidemics have made added sugar consumption and high-caloric alternatives like HFCS key suspects in the police line-up with beverages being singled out as an accessory at the scene of the crime. Beverage powerhouse Coca-cola has launched counter campaigns that all calories count, and leading public interest groups have published reports aligning sugar as a vice similar to tobacco and alcohol. Consumer trending away from high-caloric drinks and added sugars are at the core of what is driving the healthy beverage revolution yet these traditional sweeteners remain the most widely used in beverage formulation. This powerful panel will discuss the pros and cons of sugar and HFCS, why Americans crave sugar, and will project their future use in the beverage industry.