SUGAR VERSUS OTHER SWEETENERS: HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY PER CALORIE?

Abstract

The choice of a product for consumption depends on its flavor, cost, convenience and nutrient content. The flavor depends to a large extent on the caloric density of a food. The most appetizing foods tend to be those that contain higher amount of calories and are frequently associated to lower prices. The objective of this study was to analyze the price-caloric content relation of consumption products offered in stores in México through dispersion graphs to describe the impact of the new consumption trends in the offer of products to final consumers. It was found that beverages are the most abundant and cheapest sources of calories, so they are more accessible to consumers. The mixture of sugars with sweeteners different than sugar does not present broad differences with the prices of products sweetened solely with sucrose; the most important different in prices took place in products with sweeteners different from sucrose. It is important to analyze the consuption policies, since there is evidence that a light product will not always result in a healthy diet.