High-fructose corn syrup enjoyed a swift and sudden rise to America's number 1 sweetener. As a result of rampant myths, rumors and damaging news reports, the sweetener's position is teetering. Sales slumped 11 percent between 2003 and 2008 (MSNBC). The Corn Refiners Association launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to dispel the myths that have dogged the substance. You may have seen commercials depicting people who think high-fructose corn syrup is bad but are stumped when pressed to explain why. Although they're not singing its praises, some health authorities say high-fructose corn syrup has gotten a bad rap. Among the most popular misconceptions are that it's worse than sugar, unnatural and the sole cause of the obesity epidemic. Still, Michael Roizen of the Cleveland Clinic calls high-fructose corn syrup one of the most evil influences of our times. Food manufacturers are abandoning the product, and there are plenty of reasons you should limit your consumption too.
It's Worse than Table Sugar
You may have heard high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, described as something akin to sugar on speed. People think it's intensely sweeter than table sugar and as addictive, and you'll crash from the sugar high. None of this is true. Food producers favored HFCS because it has comparable sweetness to sugar at a lower price. The American Medical Association says the chemical structures of HFCS and table sugar are similar. The AMA also states there's not enough evidence to say HFCS produces more ill health effects than sugar, and no reason to warn people to cherry pick their sweeteners. Still, the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 warns against virtually all added sugars as a source of unnecessary calories.
It's Not Natural
The claim that HFCS is natural is somewhat controversial. It's true that the sweetener is made from corn --- a natural grain product that could also be genetically modified. However, additional agents are used in the manufacturing process. The Corn Refiners Association says HFCS "contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients or color additives and meets the Food and Drug Administration's requirements for use of the term 'natural.'"
It's Solely Responsible for America's Obesity Problem
Report after report has linked HFCS to America's growing obesity problem. Of note is the fact that HFCS started appearing on the scene in the 1970s and enjoyed a meteoric 1,000 percent growth in consumption by 1990. Researchers have observed that obesity rates were also rising sharply during this period. In truth, Americans' total calorie consumption has been steadily increasing since then, as has consumption of saturated and trans fats and sodium. The obesity problem has multiple causes, says the Mayo Clinic. However, a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Investigation" in 2009 found the fructose in HFCS is significantly linked to excess belly fat and insulin resistance.
It's Just a Sweetener
HFCS is a veritable multitasker in food processing. You may be used to seeing it on the food labels of your soda and soft drinks, sweet treats, desserts and pastries. But you might also see it on labels for bread and cereal, condiments, yogurts and canned goods, even if the foods are not sweet. HFCS has preservative qualities and a host of other traits that make it a useful product. The Corn Refiners Association says it helps to brown crusts in breads and desserts, aids in the fermenting of yeast, helps keep food soft and moist and enhances flavor. It keeps canned fruits firm, reduces freezer burn and allows your sodas to stay stable over a long shelf life.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;" Potential Role Of Sugar (Fructose) in the Epidemic Of Hypertension, Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and Cardiovascular Disease; Richard J. Johnson et al.; October 2007
- "Journal of Hepatology"; Fructose Consumption as a Risk Factor for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Xiaosen Ouyang et al.; June 2008
- "Journal of Clinical Investigation"; Consuming Fructose-Sweetened, Not Glucose-Sweetened, Beverages Increases Visceral Adiposity and Lipids and Decreases Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight/Obese Humans; Kimber L. Stanhope et al.; May 2009
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Consumption of High-Fructose Corn Syrup in Beverages May Play a Role in the Epidemic of Obesity; George A. Bray, et al.; April 2004
- American Medical Association: The Health Effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup
- MSNC; Corn syrup producers see sales decline; David Mercer; June 2, 2010
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