Caloric sweetener availability dropped nearly 20 percent since 1999

In 2023, the amount of caloric sweeteners available for consumption in the United States was about 20 percent less than in 1999, falling to 123.5 pounds per person from 153.6 pounds. Caloric sweeteners provide energy in the form of carbohydrates and include refined cane and beet sugars, corn sweeteners, and honey and edible syrups. According to the USDA, Economic Research Service’s (ERS) Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System, a reduction in the availability of total corn sweeteners (high-fructose corn syrup, glucose syrup, and dextrose) contributed to the drop. The availability of corn sweeteners fell from a peak of 85.7 pounds per person in 1999 to 53.0 pounds in 2023. Shifting preferences among consumers and food manufacturers, rising corn prices, and competition with refined cane and beet sugars and other caloric sweeteners have contributed to this decline. The availability of refined cane and beet sugars fell from 102.3 pounds per person in 1972 to 60.0 pounds in 1986 and remained relatively flat for the next two and a half decades. Refined sugar availability began to rise in 2010, surpassing corn sweeteners in 2011 and reaching 68.4 pounds per person in 2023. Honey availability stood at 1.3 pounds per person and availability of edible syrups was 0.8 pounds per person in 2023. This chart is from the ERS Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials data product, updated in November 2024.

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