20th Century

High-sugar manufactured food increases exponentially, the products losing much subtlety and complexity as well as the class connotations long associated with confectionery. The birth of the child consumer sees sweets designed with them in mind. Awareness grows of the health concerns of excess sugar consumption, so artificial sweeteners have a moment on the stage before their own health risks are exposed. Spices fall out of use in many commercial products, though vanilla reigns as the world’s most coveted sweet flavouring; 99 per cent of it is artificially produced rather than coming from the bean.