Sugar drinks

The industrial age coincided with a huge increase in the production and consumption of processed products and, in particular, food and drinks with a high sugar content. Often these were aimed specifically at children. This lid from a fruit flavoured drink is an early example from the mid 20th century. As in this case, chemical sweeteners - as well as sugar - were often also added to foods and drinks to give an even sweeter taste. A high volume of 'advertising' and promotion was also utlised to make these items desirable to children. It is not known whether people at this time thought children should be encouraged to eat and drink these items because they were believed to be good for them, or whether the adverse effects were in fact already known but ignored due to the attractive profits these items generated for manufacturers.