subject: High Fructose Corn Syrup Tries to Bolster Its Image [print this page] High-Fructose Corn Syrup has a bad reputation as a potential cause of obesity and many people claim that HFCS may contribute to the development of diabetes. Some believe that high fructose corn syrup is being deliberately pushed on the American people to keep them hooked on sweet treats. The sweetener has been attacked by anti-obesity campaigners and even first lady Michelle Obama. The scrutiny has led major food companies, like Sarah Lee and Kraft Foods, to remove HFCS from certain products.
According to a supplement to be published in the June issue of the Journal of Nutrition, there is little evidence that high fructose corn syrup and sugar have differing effects on satiety, energy use and insulin levels all suggesting no unique causal role for high fructose corn syrup in obesity. The report says it's time the general public to stop demonizing high fructose corn syrup as the culprit of obesity and the cause of our nation's obesity epidemic. it's important to note that the author and publisher of the report, the International Life Sciences Institute is partly funded by some of the biggest producers and users of high fructose corn syrup in America, such as ADM, Cargill, ConAgra, the Coca-Cola Company.
As the American consumption of high fructose corn syrup has hit an all time low due to its possible link to obesity and diabetes, manufacturers are hoping a name change will overhaul the product's image. The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) applied to the federal government to change the sweetener's name from high-fructose corn syrup to corn sugar. Audrae Erickson, president of the CRA, insists that the name change is simply to let customers know what the natural ingredient is and where it comes from corn. Of course, the Food and Drug Administration will have to approve the bid for the new name, a process which could take up to two years.
High Fructose Corn Syrup Tries to Bolster Its Image
