Sugar cane

Definition

Sugar cane, otherwise known as Saccharum officinarum, is a member of the grass family. This hard plant’s stem is processed to extract a sweet liquid which eventually becomes what we know as cane sugar. Approximately 70% of the world’s sugar comes from the sugar cane plant.

Health considerations

Due to its high demand, sugar cane is produced all over the world, often in ways that are not very environmentally friendly. Thus, there have been many cases of sugar cane harvesters and processors with high blood pressure, pneumonia and genetic abnormalities

May be found in

Bread, baked goods, cakes, cookies, sweetened beverages, soups, cereals, sauces, prepared meat

References

Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens
PLOS ONE
Environmental Health Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Alternative spellings and names

Saccharum officinarum, Cane sugar