I bought some sugar the other day. I felt so conflicted about my purchase.

It wasn't that refined white sugar is bad for my health (and everyone else's). As with many things, the stuff is okay in moderation. 

It was the brand that caused my consternation. I bought the cheaper sugar, as my Scottish heritage dictates, but felt horrible in doing so. It was as if I betrayed an old friend for a few pennies. 

Sugar is sugar. I have never noticed a difference in taste from one brand to another. So why shouldn't I buy the cheaper stuff? 

Except...sugar is personal, for me anyway. There are good guys and bad guys in the sugar industry, and I don't want to buy the bad guys' sugar, even if it is cheaper.

You see, back in the early 1960s my father worked for a sugar company. Those were the good guys, the only sugar we had in our house. All other brands were the bad guys. In my mind anyway - I doubt there was much difference in the companies. Since that time though I have had a loyalty to the brand that we had in our house. 

I used to collect sugar packets, the type found usually in restaurants. At least back then - I have no idea how people frequenting restaurants get their sugar these days.

To me (and remember I was much younger) the packets were interesting with their various designed. It was almost like collecting stamps, without the cash outlay.

I remember a series that showed the coat of arms of each of the Canadian provinces. There was a series featuring provincial flowers too. 

At restaurants, on the rare occasions I would be in one, I would check to see if the sugar packets were from my father's firm or the competition. It didn't really matter - I collected them all. 

Lots of places had packets with their names on them. I have no idea how much extra they were charged by the companies for the personalized version.   

These days it seems sugar are boring. They are all generic. I don't remember when I last saw one that was specific to the location. Maybe the printing costs aren't worth it. Maybe people aren't  taking as much sugar in their coffee. Or maybe I'm just not noticing because I don't drink coffee and don't go out very often.

It has been 60 years since my father changed jobs. That's a long time to remain loyal to a brand that, when you think about it, has done nothing for me.

So maybe, with food prices at an all-time high, I shouldn't feel guilty about saving a couple of cents. Every penny counts these days.

But I can't help it. I feel like a traitor.

What about you? Are there any brands that you have a strong loyalty to? Is that loyalty rational, or irrational?

Feel free to let me know.