It's partly the pervasiveness of that product because it's in fking everything in the US at least. Why is it in BREAD? https://www.thedailymeal.com/1306301/unhealthiest-store-boug...

It's also the crazy amounts: we're accustomed to high levels of sweetness. Like 40g sugar in a can of soda.

It’s a humectant. And it subconsciously tastes good (yay capitalism).