SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN THE CONSUMPTION OF SWEETENERS

This paper considers the growth and international differences in the c onsumption of sweeteners that include honey, centrifugal refined sugar , non-centrifugal sugar and alternative sweeteners developed in the la st 30 years, such as high fructose corn syrup. The sources of sweetene rs are noted, and a brief history of consumption is given, Internation al differences in consumption per capita are considered in 1900, the 1 930s and the 1990s, The relationship between income and consumption is discussed at household, regional and national levels, but it is obser ved that there is a very low income elasticity of demand for sweetener s in richer countries. Since the 1960s, consumption has fallen as conc ern for health has increased. Although there is a strong positive rela tionship between national income and sweetener consumption, there are other factors at work.