2015 91 min (full), 60 min (abridged) 978-1-944024-90-1 This film has subtitles English

Sugar Coated

How the Food Industry Seduced the World One Spoonful at a Time

or

Synopsis

IS SUGAR THE NEW TOBACCO?

Sugar Coated examines the various public relations tactics that the food industry has employed over the years to beat back accelerating concerns about the toxicity of sugar. Its starting point is a secret PR campaign the industry devised in the 1970s to deflect attention away from developing health concerns about sugar. It then traces how in the years since the industry has honed its PR tactics to counter mounting scientific evidence about the dangers of sugar. In the end, Sugar Coated leaves us with two crucial questions: Will the PR specialists of the multibillion-dollar food industry continue their amazing run of success and allow Big Sugar to keep sweetening the world’s food supply? Or will today's heightened level of public awareness about the relationship between sugar consumption and skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease in children prove to be too much for industry spin to handle -- ultimately forcing the same kind of reckoning we saw with Big Tobacco?

Featuring Dr. Bob Lustig, Gary Taubes, Cristin Kearns, and Dr. Yoni Freedhoff.

Please note: This film does not come with Public Performance Rights. If you wish to do a screening outside of a face-to-face classroom setting, please contact us.

Release Date:2015
Duration:91 min (full), 60 min (abridged)
ISBN:978-1-944024-90-1
Subtitles:English

Trailers

Watch the trailer

Filmmaker Credits

Director, Producer & Editor
Executive Producer
Associate Producer/Digital Media Producer
Design & Animation
Production Manager
Assistant Editor

Film Festivals

Screenings

Winnipeg Cinematheque
October 1 to Oct 4
The Bookshelf Theatre
Guelph, ON
May 5-7, 2015
Rainbow Cinema Market Square
Toronto, ON
May 8-21, 2015
The Cinematheque
Vancouver, BC
May 15-19, 2015
Mayfair Theatre
Ottawa, QB
May 21, 2015
Théatre de la Cité Université de Laval
Quebec City, QC
June 18, 2015
Princess Cinemas
Waterloo, ON
June 23-25, 2015
Cinecenta
Victoria, BC
June 28-29, 2015
Cinémagique – Cinéma du Parc
Montreal, QC
August 10, 2015
Cinéma du Parc
Montreal, QC
August 21-27, 2015
David Brower Center
Berkeley, California
November 6

Resources: Downloads and Related Links

Praise

“must see…a beautifully crafted documentary”
The Muff Society
“If you want to know how sugar politics really works, see this film!”
Marion Nestle, author of Soda Politics
“Run not walk to see Sugar Coated… a must see for all”
The Dr. Joe Shoe
"Filmmaker Michèle Hozer's documentarySugar Coateddoes not simply present a laundry list of sugar-related evils, but rather compiles a broad case against an industry that — like Big Tobacco — is trying very hard to cover up compelling research that suggests a ubiquitous product is killing us. Unlike tobacco, refined (or other kinds of processed) sugar is found in all kinds of food products, often under a misleading name. The truth is we're addicted and might not know it, but our bodies certainly do, given the epidemic levels of diabetes, kidney disease, and more. Presenting the argument here are pediatric endocrinologist Robert Lustig and Denver dentist Cristin Kearns. Lustig tours and lectures as a blunt-talking crusader against sugar, while Kearns did the world a big favor by discovering 1,500 pages of internal sugar industry research that was squelched but turned up in public archives. A powerful investigative report, this is recommended."
Video Librarian
”Michèle Hozer makes BIG SUGAR required viewing for all in Sugar Coated
T-Mak World
Sugar Coated Hits a Home Run”
James Bawden, TV Critic
“The great thing about this feature doc is its point-of-view filmmaking”
Brendan Kelly, Montreal Gazette
“this is one sharp doc”
Cinemablographer