High fructose corn syrup is the main ingredient in most soda,
second only to water. You'll find it in ketchup. It's
in jam, candy, bread, cereal, Miracle Whip, cookies, cough syrup,
crackers, yogurt, cottage cheese, pickles, relish, apple sauce, ice
cream, lunch meat, salad dressing, barbeque sauce and Stove Top
Stuffing.
High fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, is ubiquitous for two simple
reasons: it's cheaper than cane or beat sugar and it's sweet, so it
tastes good. But too much of a good thing is not good.
We're consuming a lot of high fructose corn syrup. The
average American gets more than 200 calories from HFCS every
day. In the 1970s, it was two calories. Before that, it
was zero, because HFCS didn't come around until the disco
decade.
HFCS has become as American as apple pie. That's because in
many countries outside the U.S., sugar is still cheaper.
Now that two generations of Americans have grown up on high
fructose corn syrup, it's joined the list of suspects in the
obesity epidemic.
Here's what the critics believe about HFCS:
• HFCS has been indicated as a possible
contributor to diabetes - especially in children - by at least one
study.
• HFCS is genetically modified.
It's the product of a complex process that involves genetically
modified corn and enzymes.
• Fructose is not necessarily good for
you. The F in HFCS stands for fructose. Consumers may
associate that with fruit. But while a dose of HFCS tastes
sweet, it's not like a bite of a fresh apple. Fructose is
metabolized differently from other sugars, and some believe it
converts to fat more.
• HFCS affects metabolism and can make
you feel hungrier.
• Extremely high amounts of HFCS have
been linked to cardiovascular disease and liver damage in studies
with rats.
• Partly because HFCS is inexpensive, the
processed foods that contain it can be super-sized cheaply.
Consumers think they're getting a better deal, but what they're
really getting is fatter.
The critics are a diverse group, including nutritionists, concerned
parents, diligent researchers and yes, a few well-meaning people
who are against just about everything.
On the other side, we have the Corn Refiners Association.
They dispute everything the critics believe about HFCS. And
while they have an obvious financial interest in defending the
sweet stuff, they make some solid points.
• HFCS has the practically the same
caloric density as table sugar or honey.
• HFCS extends the shelf life of
processed foods. It keeps breakfast bars soft and enhances
the flavor of spices.
• The Food and Drug Administration
recognizes HFCS as safe.
• Obesity is on the rise in countries
that don't use much HFCS.
• No single food or ingredient makes
people fat. The problem is too many calories and not enough
exercise.
That last one is the bottom line. Avoid high fructose corn
syrup if you choose. But the American appetite for sweet,
processed foods, combined with a distaste for physical activity, is
a recipe for obesity.
