Likewise, although sucrose consumption fell, corn sweetener use rose. Most sugar as sucrose and corn sweeteners is used as food additives in processed foods such as pizza, breads, canned vegetables, condiments such as catsup, and carbonated soft drinks. Carbonated soft drinks accounted for more than one-fifth of the refined and processed sugars in the American diet. Honey, molasses, and maple syrup as a group maintain one percent of the market share. Americans are conspicuous consumers of sweets.
Many snack foods are high in fat and sugar.
Specialty and novelty foods constitute one of the largest areas of the specialty foods trade. Many of these items are gourmet condiments such as tomato sauces, fruit salsas, and other sauces. Marketers are focusing on these trends. For example, a number of products are aimed at consumers interested in herb-flavored oils. Flavored oils and vinegars, especially popular at food trade shows in recent years, appeal to consumers because of distinctive taste and packaging.