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Motherload posed an interesting question recently, “Should we regulate sugar to protect public health?” The question itself stems from a recent issue of the journal Nature, where public health experts report that plain old sugar is as toxic and just as dangerous for society as substances like alcohol and tobacco. The researchers, working out of University of California at San Francisco, aren’t wrong. Past research has compared junk food addiction to heroin addiction and some research shows that only regulating some sugar won’t work – you need whole community regulation to make a difference. And whole community regulation is exactly what these researchers think should happen. The Wall Street Journal reports that the study authors suggest taxing sugar, limiting sugar in schools, reducing sugary advertising, zoning ordinances for sugar and even placing age limits on the types of sugar-laden products kids can buy. But, is regulation the answer? Can’t parents limit their own child’s sugar intake? It is a very good question. So good in fact, that I asked our readers via the Inhabitots Facebook page, the very same question to see what they’d say.

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Image by shannahsin via sxc.

What Our Readers Think

On Facebook, reader Amanda’s answer was by far the most popular. She notes “I think that regulating sugar isn’t the answer. I think it’s more important to teach our children to make good and healthy choices for themselves and then trust them to do so!” Some readers, like Lucinda and Heather felt that sugar should be regulated in specific places and products, such as in typical food items like spaghetti sauce and in our public school system. Very few readers were for regulation, although Natalie points out:

“I would like it less visible as a way to reduce consumption. Last night I went to trader joes for the first time- came home with 4 different sugary treats- why- because they are at my eye level all above frozen foods. So while I am looking for organic strawberries, all I can see is “peanut butter goodies,” “dark chocolate, carmel with black sea salt” I was ravenous and lost the fight. Would a huge tax prevented my BINGE? Maybe!!!!“

Maybe a tax would help prevent binges, just like Natalie says. Still, by an incredible landslide, most of our readers seem to think regulation is a bad, and even dangerous idea.

But what about the other side of the fence? Is regulation necessary?

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