The sugar industry’s efforts to hide the fact that sugar is toxic is exposed in Sugar Coated. Over the course of the last 30 years, the obesity rate has more than doubled. One of the reasons attributed to this is the over consumption of sugar, the use of which has increased by 46%. Pediatric endocrinologist, Dr. Robert Lustig actively campaigns against sugar, arguing that it is a toxic substance, leading to an increase of fatty liver disease and diabetes. It is argued that the sugar industry knows about the dangers of sugar, but has been using similar PR methods as the tobacco industry to hide the facts from the public. Sugar Coated is a film that is making many of the same arguments as last year’s Fed Up, namely how the over-consumption of sugar in processed foods is leading to higher health problems and obesity rates. However, the film also has the added level of exposing the efforts of the Sugar Association in the 1970s to hide the harmful effects of sugar and get FDA approval. The film also goes into other issues, such as there being misleading “Health Check” labels on food items and how McDonalds and Coca-Cola are major sponsors of an obesity summit. Like Fed Up, Sugar Coated can come off as a bit preachy, stating some obvious facts, such as real food is better for you than processed. That said, the film is educational in regards to the lobbying done by the sugar industry, which is pretty much the same as what was done by the tobacco industry in the 1960s. The only difference is, we don’t need tobacco, but we do need food. At the very least, Sugar Coated will get you thinking twice about how much sugar you consume in your diet. ★ ★ ★ ★ | LIKED IT Screenings:
- Sun, May 3, 6:45 PM – Bloor Hot Docs Cinema