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Americans love sweets, but they might be coming down from their sugar highs as health concerns such as obesity and diabetes grow. According to leading consumer and retail information company The NPD Group, 44% of American homemakers are extremely or very concerned about serving foods with sugar, the highest percentage noted since 1994. NPD data also shows an increase in consumption of foods and beverages that are low-sugar, sugar-free, or contain sugar substitutes.

According to NPD’s Dieting Monitor service, nearly 7 out of 10 adults say they want to cut down or avoid sugar completely, and about 4 out of 10 adults say they check food labels regularly for sugar. Over half of consumers say they are aware of and concerned about high fructose corn syrup, one of the most commonly-used sweeteners today.

We're glad to hear that Americans are increasingly worried about the health risks of a sugar laden diet, but we urge caution in regard to artficial sweeteners. In 2006, the research firm Mintel reported that almost two thirds of Americans are concerned about the safety of artificial sweeteners. They are not calorie-free, and if eaten in large enough quantities, the calories can be comparable to sugar-containing foods. According to the National Cancer Institute, there's no scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer, but the risk of cancer continues to be of concern to many Americans.

To read a press release on this topic go to: The NPD Group Reports Concern Over Sugar at Highest Level in 13 Years

For more info on the safety of artificial sweeteners from WebMd go to: Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?