Researchers at the University of California claim that sugar contributes to 35 million deaths a year worldwide and is so dangerous it should be controlled through taxation and legislation, reports the Daily Mail.

In an article entitled "The Toxic Truth About Sugar", published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, the researchers argue that, like alcohol and tobacco, sugar is a toxic, addictive substance and call for regulation through high taxes, laws on where and to whom it can be advertised, and even age-restricted sales.
The paper staes that increased global consumption of sugar is primarily responsible for a whole range of chronic diseases that are reaching epidemic levels around the world. It would be sugar, not obesity, that is the real health threat, says Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF, and his co-authors – public health experts Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis – in their paper.
"The only method for dealing with this is a public-health intervention," said Lustig in an interview. "Everyone talks about personal responsibility, and that won't work here, as it won't for any addictive substance. These are things that have to be done at a governmental level."
The study recommends using taxation to double the price of fizzy drinks, restricting their sale to those over 17 or 18, and tightening regulations covering school vending machines and snack bars.
The article concludes that responsibility lies with the food companies, saying that while they may resist change, shifts in policy are possible if the pressure is great enough. Examples include the ban on smoking in public places and the fitting of airbags in cars.
In response to the study, the food and beverage industries said in statements that sugar cannot be blamed for high rates of chronic disease in the U.S. and elsewhere and that comparing sugar to alcohol and tobacco would simply be "without scientific merit". (pi)