Sugar

Comedian Simon Evans continues his series about the economics of some of the goods - or bads - we are addicted to.

What are the economics, history and health issues behind these oh-so-addictive commodities?

This time it's sugar.

Some people say sugar could be the new tobacco - exposed as a health risk that's been knowingly concealed for decades. And the trouble is sugar is in almost everything now - even things that 'look' savoury.

What part does economics have to play in how we have got to this point? How do we make sense of what the food industry is doing with sugar? And if we want to invest in this addiction, how do we do it?

Simon walks us around the economics of this very familiar commodity and pokes fun at our relationship with it.

With author David Gillespie,

And regular guests:

* Economics guru, Tim Harford
* Queen of investment know-how, Merryn Somerset-Webb

Written by Simon Evans, Benjamin Partridge and Andy Wolton.

Producer: Claire Jones

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2015.