Consumers Say No to High Fructose Corn Syrup
It's commonly found in everything from soda to canned soup. But after some studies suggested a link between the sweetener and obesity, many consumers have become wary of high fructose corn syrup and are putting pressure on soft drink companies to start sweetening their beverages with sugar cane. In fact, some smaller companies like Hansen, Jones, and Thomas Kemper have already gone natural to satisfy consumer demand.
Nutrition expert Dr. Peter Havel of UC Davis expressed doubts that fructose was any more unhealthy than cane sugar, telling the Los Angeles Times, "This is really an area that needs further study." But science aside, there's no question that sugar just plain tastes better, which ought to be reason enough to avoid the artificial stuff.
Related:
Jones Soda Switches to Pure Cane Sugar
Why Do Diet Sodas Taste Like Crap?
Weight Gain and Fructose
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9 Comments:
In the Pollanian view I don't think this matters. I believe it'll help food companies regain the trust of their customers but many foods will still contain excessive amounts of sugar that our bodies aren't designed to handle. This is still 'out of the context of food' and probably won't have an impact on obesity. Be they from corn or cane the calories are still empty and numerous.
christopher at 12:54PM on 08/07/08
i always thought the difference had to do with nutrition, not calories. hf corn syrup was processed more or something. but no one really cares about how nutritious their food is, only if it's going to make them look "bad".
al oof at 1:37PM on 08/07/08
Sugar mostly tastes better (although try and make a decent Pecan pie using sugar instead of corn syrup!).
But HFCS is a USA phenomenon because of corn subsidies, and sugar tariffs. So how come England and so many other nations are seeing the exact same obesity problems when they don't each much HFCS?
Also is there really an Obesity epidemic, or are we seeing vested interests trying to scare the public?
Are are we seeing the results of a change in demographics (older people have a higher BMI, and some minorities have a higher BMI), and a change in the definition of obesity (they changed it from BMI 27 to 25 in 1998, and suddenly over 30 million people found themselves listed as overweight) ?
Here is an excellent article from Sandy Szwarc on the reality:
http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/08/jfs-special-report-obesity.html
peekpoke at 2:34PM on 08/07/08
HFCS is poison.
We here in the US need FAR less sugar than we ingest. It causes all sorts of health problems just as-is, so there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to eat HFCS.
Brownie at 4:02PM on 08/07/08
HFCS snubbing is the most obnoxious form of faux sophistication. You're still drinking soda, and it's still bad for you, and it's still not at all natural, but if you concentrate enough, maybe you can convince yourself it tastes slightly different!
frackle at 4:45PM on 08/07/08
for someone who cannot taste the difference, this just sounds like smart marketing.
corn subsidies are stupid though.
and drinking too much soda, either with syrup or sugar will be bad for you.
foodinmouth at 9:52PM on 08/07/08
Whole Foods has their own brand of soda with no HFCS. I usually do not like any "store brand" Cola, but now I prefer Whole Foods Cola to my old favorite, Coke.
amylou61 at 11:02PM on 08/07/08
I quit drinking soda entirely when I started working from home. When I was working elsewhere, it just seemed natural to get a soda with lunch, and I'd usually have some available at home. Considering how much soda I used to drink when I was a teenager, and how many years I consumed that stuff, it's interesting that I don't crave it at all. Now, it's pretty much lost all of its appeal -- it's just too darned sweet.
Funny thing is that if you aren't a soda drinker, sometimes your options are slim. I go to a weekly meeting where lunch is brought in and cans of soda are always available, but there aren't other options. No bottled water, no ice tea, no coffee. There's tap water, but drinking vessels may or may not be around. I bring my own beverage of choice. But if other people wanted something else, they'd have no choices once they sat down at the meeting -- no one wants to be the picky one who needs a special drink, so everyone grabs a soda.
And I know plenty of people who want to lose weight, but just can't give up the sodas, and they say just that. They can't give it up.
dbcurrie at 1:53AM on 08/08/08
Hi, my name is Liz and I work for the Corn Refiner’s Association. I wanted to share some information about High Fructose Corn Syrup.
High fructose corn syrup, like table sugar and honey, is composed of fructose and glucose, which are found in many naturally-occurring fruits, vegetables and nuts. And high fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as sugar and honey – 4 per gram.
For the most part, you’ll find high fructose corn syrup in the same kinds of products in which you would find sugar or other sweeteners. At the same time, corn sweeteners offer some unique functional benefits that help companies offer more choices in food products. High fructose corn syrup keeps foods fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast and energy bars moist, maintains consistent flavors in beverages, and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments.
Price may have prompted manufacturers to switch from sugar to high fructose corn syrup 30 years ago, but it is no longer a primary factor, since high fructose corn syrup has specific and unique functional qualities not shared by sugar. In addition, the price of corn is rising substantially due to demand.
There’s a lot of solid research and information at www.SweetSurprise.com and www.HFCSFacts.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Ecron at 2:11PM on 08/15/08