Sugar in Wendy's Chili

I found out about this last year, I think, but just learned why. Did you guys know that adding a little sugar to a tomato based stew reduces the acid? Roz, you may be able to go back to eating your Wendy's chili, within reason, after all.  If any of you folks have ever dumped on Wendy's chili I haven't heard about it. Maybe it's only a little sugar but the carbs are higher than I would have expected and this may be why.
End of public service announcement. Carry on.  

--gina 

I am a vsg patient and when i was allowed to start eating mushy foods I lived on wendy's chili and cottage cheese. BOTH are excellent. But I did know that adding sugar to anything acid based like spaghetti sauce reduces the acid because a few years ago i started getting heart burn and someone told me to try it. I of course thought they were crazy but wouldn't give up my sauce so I tried it. It only takes  a little bit and it works :D For a whole jar of spaghetti sauce ( big one ) a tsp of sugar is enough so I imagine the chili would only need a little sprinkle

I've heard that about sugar and tomato based stuff but I like acidy tomatoes and they don't seem to bother me.  But you may be right.  Wonder if the ingred. are on line for Wendy's chili and one could see if it has sugar.

I never use sugar in my tomato recipes, if the tomatoes tastes too acidy, I put a sprinkle of baking soda, it nuetralizes the acid and makes the tomatoes sweet without adding sugar.

Oh!   Handy info. Thanks!

It has to be in the tomato base they add...I use to work for Wendy's and never actually added sugar to the recipe. But it would not surprise me to find it in the tomato products we used.

Gina,  I'm glad you told me to read this.  I add sugar to my canned spaghetti sauce and come to think of it I have never had heart burn after eating it.  I'm not allowed spices so what do you think about that?  I'm hoping that after it heals up some I can eat it occasionally. I think I might have to give up my Mint Cookie drink in the mornings too for awhile.  The past week I have been having cramps after I drink it but they don't last long. I'm not allowed chocolate or caffeine.  The cramps are nothing like they were before.

It sounds like more healing will help. I hope it goes quickly.

--g