Sweetness and Suffering: The Global Legacy of Sugar

Sugar harvesting in the Caribbean.

 Sugar! It’s what’s for breakfast. And lunch. And dinner and snacks. Americans consume staggering amounts of it each year — up to 121 pounds per person — often without realizing how deeply sugar is woven into our global history. But sugar is more than just a dietary staple; it is a force that has shaped empires, fueled slavery, driven economies, and now contributes to a worldwide health crisis. By tracing sugar’s journey from ancient cultivation to modern addiction, we can better understand how something so sweet came at such a bitter cost — and how its legacy still affects us today.

The earliest known uses of sugarcane date back to around 6000 BCE, with New Guinean islanders chewing on the cane for the sweet juice produced.  It was the people of India who began to domesticate the crop for its crystalline characteristics.  Historians aren’t quite sure when this happened, but the Arabs began to trade the sugarcane with the subcontinent again in the 8th century CE.  This could be considered the beginning of an early Afro-Eurasian trade network. The Crusaders of the 12th century helped to expedite the spread of sugar by bringing knowledge of it back from the Middle East. One thing’s for sure, that trade has largely continued unabated since then.  

Image of slave population harvesting circa 1700s in Caribbean.

But it was during the age of European exploration that sugar’s influence — and human cost — expanded dramatically. During that time, with Europe's rise as the dominant colonial and trading power in the newly discovered Americas, sugar became a highly desired global commodity. And the results were catastrophic for the peoples of Africa, who were turned into

chattel slaves throughout the Caribbean, and the rest of the Americas, forced from their homes, by opportunistic Portuguese, Spaniards, Dutch, English and French. While the Europeans did not invent the institution of slavery, they certainly helped to systematize and profit greatly from it.  The average life span of slaves on sugar plantations scarcely lasted more than 7 to 10 years upon arrival. England clearly built a massive tea and sugar empire in that period lasting from the 1700s until well into the 1900s.  

Editorial cartoon emphasizing US interest and economic growth due to its investment in sugar.

In a sense, the same forces of profit and consumption that once drove colonial empires now drive modern industries. Sugar continues to be popular and lucrative, even as it is clearly shown to be detrimental to our well-being as a species.  Globally, it accounts for over $60 billion in revenues which benefit countries like Brazil, China, India, Thailand and surprisingly, the countries within the European Union.  Adding salt to the wound, sugar is largely subsidized by countries like the United States and within the EU.  Brazil also grows sugarcane to convert into ethanol for energy use at the expense of their massive rainforest. 

From a health perspective, the “sweet” substance contributes to a host of medical issues, including, but not limited to, obesity, insulin resistance, heart disease and unwanted weight gain. Clearly, while cutting out sugar may require the regimen of a monk or professional athlete, one can benefit from simply moderating intake of sugar. Afterall, sugar mustn’t be a 5-meal-a-day ritual.  

Sugar has shaped economies, driven empires, and even fueled atrocities — and yet today, it hides in plain sight on our plates and in our drinks. From its dark colonial past to its modern role in global health crises, sugar is far more than a simple sweetener. While eliminating it entirely might feel extreme, becoming conscious of its history and health consequences empowers us to make better choices. Moderation isn't just a dietary suggestion — it’s a form of resistance to a system that still profits from our overindulgence.