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• High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener made from corn found in many of today's soft drinks, cookies, cakes and breads. The product is manufactured in a complex process and can not be found naturally in corn.New York Times: A Sweetener With a Bad Rap (2006)

  A recent study shows that some foods and drinks rich in high fructose corn syrup may contain high levels of mercury. The report, published by Minneapolis-based nonprofit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, shows detectable levels of mercury in 17 out of 55 tested products. Despite the results, the researchers are not warning consumers to avoid the products tested, nor are they certain what form of mercury the products contain.WebMD: Mercury in High-Fructose Corn Syrup? (January 27, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. A manufactured product not found naturally in corn
  2. Produced in factories through several mechanical processes and chemical reactionsNew York Times: A Sweetener With a Bad Rap (2006)
  3. Production involves the manipulation of the corn moleculesNew York Times: A Sweetener With a Bad Rap (2006)
  4. HFCS has the same caloric density as most carbohydrateshfcsfacts: HFCS Quick Facts
  5. HFCS can raise both blood sugar and insulin levelshfcsfacts: HFCS Quick Facts
  6. HFCS has been blamed for the high increase in obesity
  7. HFCS is similar in composition to table sugar
  8. HFCS contains a combination of fructose and sucrose
  9. HFCS helps keep food freshhfcsfacts: HFCS Quick Facts
  10. HFCS enhances the flavor of many productshfcsfacts: HFCS Quick Facts
  11. HCFS contains no artificial ingredientshfcsfacts: HFCS Quick Facts
  12. HFCS helps keep ingredients evenly dispersed in some foodshfcsfacts: HFCS Quick Facts

• HFCS and Obesity

  HFCS has been blamed for the increased rates of obesity in the United States. Several recent studies seem to contradict earlier links to obesity. For example, the American Medical Association concluded in June 2009 that it is not worse than sugar. However, some doctors say that these studies were conducted by groups that profit from the sale of HFCS and should be taken with caution.The Post and Courier: Sweetener not yet off the hook (January 19, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Sugar | Honey | Artificial Sweetener | Aspartame | How to Soften Brown Sugar | Obesity | How to Make Simple Syrup

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