Viva Brighton Issue #50 April 2017

FOOD
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Conversations on Sugar
A dangerous weapon?
“In 1971, when we had a macrobiotic restaurant and the first naturalfood
store, I wrote a book called About Macrobiotics, and in it I said,
rather simplistically, ‘if sugar was discovered today it would be banned immediately and handed over to the
military for weapons research’.” So says health-food activist Craig Sams. He’s since moderated his views, cofounding
the Green & Black’s chocolate company with his wife in 1991. “But, ultimately,” he adds, “our energy
comes from sugar - without it we’d be dead - so it’s good stuff in principle. It’s how we approach it that matters.”
In Conversations On Sugar later this month, Craig will be discussing that approach with Jo Rallings of the Jamie
Oliver Food Foundation, and Dan Parker from Sugar Smart Brighton & Hove - organisations both dedicated
to increasing awareness of, and reducing consumption of, sugar nationwide. They’ve been making inroads with
their pilot phase in Brighton & Hove.
Obesity is rising; experts are telling us to drastically reduce sugar consumption, while advertisers are telling us
otherwise. Slow Food Sussex have convened the panel to examine the evidence, navigate the conflicting advice
and help to bring about a very necessary change. “It’s about everything in moderation,” Craig concludes. “You
get more pleasure out of the things that you don’t overdo.” Lizzie Lower
Friday 28th, 6.30-9pm, One Church Brighton, Gloucester Place. Tickets are available from eventbrite.co.uk
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