Public relations of high fructose corn syrup

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Critics and competitors of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), notably the sugar industry, have for many years used various public relations campaigns to claim the sweetener causes certain health conditions, despite the lack of scientific evidence that HFCS differs nutritionally from sugar. [1] The HFCS industry has tried to respond to these campaigns with their own efforts.

Contents

Labeling as "natural"

In May 2006, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) threatened to file a lawsuit against Cadbury Schweppes for labeling 7 Up as "All Natural" or "100% Natural", [2] despite the presence of high-fructose corn syrup. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no general definition of "natural"; however, FDA regulations define "natural flavoring" to include products of vegetables. [3] Current FDA policy is that it does not object to labeling HFCS as "natural." [4] The CSPI also state that HFCS is not a "natural" ingredient due to the high level of processing and the use of at least one genetically modified (GMO) enzyme required to produce it. On January 12, 2007, Cadbury Schweppes agreed to stop calling 7 Up "all natural". [5] They now label it "100% Natural Flavors". [6]

HFCS advertisements

In September 2008, the Corn Refiners Association [7] launched a series of United States television advertisements that stated that HFCS "is made from corn", "is natural" (changed from previously stated "doesn't have artificial ingredients"), "has the same calories as sugar or honey", "is nutritionally the same as sugar", and "is fine in moderation", in the hopes of keeping consumers from avoiding HFCS products. The ads feature actors portraying roles in upbeat domestic situations with sugary foods, with one actor disparaging a food's HFCS content but being unable to explain why, and another actor questioning the comments with these claims. Finally, the ads each make reference to the Corn Refiners Association website. [8] [ failed verification ]

2010 Corn Refiners Association ads feature parents walking through a corn field, talking about children's nutrition concerns and being confused by recent HFCS information. So they consulted "medical and nutrition experts" and discovered that "Whether it's corn sugar or cane sugar, your body can't tell the difference." [9]

Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, called the advertisements "deceptive", [10] stating: "High-fructose corn syrup starts out as cornstarch, which is chemically or enzymatically degraded to glucose and some short polymers of glucose. Another enzyme is then used to convert varying fractions of glucose into fructose...High-fructose corn syrup just doesn't exist in nature." However, Jacobson also stated that: "The special harmfulness of high-fructose corn syrup has become one of those urban myths that sounds right, but is basically wrong. Nutritionally, high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose may be identical." [11]

Since HFCS is present in a "staggering" amount of food in the US, and in most foods marketed to children, there are doubts as to whether it can be consumed in moderation:

...unless you're making a concerted effort to avoid it, it's pretty difficult to consume high-fructose corn syrup in moderation [11]

—  Time magazine

Moves back to sugar

A March 21, 2009 The New York Times article said that some food companies and restaurants were using sugar in their product as a selling point in order to attract customers who prefer not to consume high-fructose corn syrup. As one example, the article cited Jason's Deli, a chain of delis with 200 restaurants in 27 states. The chain had replaced high-fructose corn syrup with sugar in everything except a few soft drinks. Daniel Helfman, a spokesman for the deli chain, was quoted as saying, "Part of this is a huge rebellion against HFCS... but part of it is taste." [12]

PepsiCo recently put forth a "throwback" version of Mountain Dew and Pepsi-Cola, designed to taste the same as these drinks did in the 1960s and 1970s. One aspect of the formulation is that sugar is used instead of HFCS. PepsiCo stated that HFCS and sugar are "essentially the same" and that the only reason HFCS was eschewed was in order to accurately reflect the taste of the past. [13] Dr Pepper also released a "heritage" version of Dr Pepper Soda in 2009 that was made to the original formula and used beet sugar instead of HFCS. Since its establishment in 1891, the Dr Pepper bottling plant in Dublin, TX has continued to use the original formula sweetened with Imperial Cane Sugar (see Dublin Dr Pepper). [14] In addition, the Coca-Cola bottling plant in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and most Coca-Cola bottling plants in Europe also uses sucrose. [15] Sucrose-based Mexican imports of Coca-Cola and other soft drinks are getting increasing penetration into US markets. [16]

In May 2010, Hunt's removed high-fructose corn syrup from its ketchup due to buyer preference as a result of health concerns, [17] but has since put High Fructose Corn Syrup back in their ketchup. [18] Heinz now offers a ketchup made with sugar instead of HFCS called "Simply Heinz." [19]

Popular campaigns by nutritional experts and belief by a rapidly increasing faction of the consuming public in the United States that high-fructose corn syrup has harmful health effects continues to result in increasing reformulation of popular processed foods and reduced sales of HFCS by 9% in 2009 as compared with 2007. Known health risks include weight gain/obesity, type-2 diabetes, elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, long-term liver damage and mercury exposure. [20]

Ivan Royster of South Carolina, now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina began a Facebook page which has grown to over 190,000 fans, lobbying for the ban of HFCS in the U.S. An article recently published by Organic Connections magazine covered Ivan's protest and the Corn Refiners Association's counter to his efforts. The article includes links to Ivan's Facebook page and a study on HFCS. [21]

Proposed name change to corn sugar

On September 14, 2010, the Corn Refiners Association applied for permission to use the name "corn sugar" in place of "high-fructose corn syrup" on food labels for products sold in the United States. According to a press release, "Consumers need to know what is in their foods and where their foods come from and we want to be clear with them," said CRA president Audrae Erickson. "The term 'corn sugar' succinctly and accurately describes what this natural ingredient is and where it comes from – corn." [22] The association, however, did not provide clarification as to a change in what the FDA already considers corn sugar, i.e., dextrose [23] or any of the other corn-derived sugars such as corn syrup and maltodextrin.

TIME stated that the CRA's decision to change the name of HFCS was because HFCS had such a bad reputation. [24] In response to the proposed name change, The New York Times ran an article asking nutrition experts what they would suggest as appropriate names for HFCS. Three of the five experts recommended alternate names, including Michael Pollan who suggested "enzymatically altered corn glucose". Dr. Andrew Weil recommended not changing from HFCS, calling the term corn sugar "too vague" and the CRA's attempt to change HFCS's name "Orwellian". However Dr. Barry Popkin felt that "corn sugar" was an appropriate term. [25] [26]

On May 31, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration ultimately rejected the petition. [27] In its decision, the FDA defined sugar as a "solid, dried and crystallized food" while syrup was "an aqueous solution or liquid food." In addition, the term "corn sugar" had already been approved as another name for dextrose, which has been commonly used as a food ingredient since the 1970s. Among the public health concerns cited were those individuals with hereditary fructose intolerance or fructose malabsorption, who have been advised to avoid ingredients that contain fructose. While individuals with fructose allergies have associated "corn sugar" (dextrose) to be an acceptable ingredient to their health when "high-fructose corn syrup" is not, changing the name of HFCS to "corn sugar" could put these individuals at risk. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

A sweetener is a substance added to food or drink to impart the flavor of sweetness, either because it contains a type of sugar, or because it contains a sweet-tasting sugar substitute. Various natural non-sugar sweeteners and artificial sweeteners are used to produce food and drink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sucralose</span> Non-nutritive sweetener

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener and sugar substitute. As the majority of ingested sucralose is not metabolized by the body, it adds minimal calories. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955. It is produced by chlorination of sucrose, selectively replacing three of the hydroxy groups—in the C1 and C6 positions of the fructose portion and the C4 position of the glucose portion—to give a 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxyfructose–4-chloro-4-deoxygalactose disaccharide. Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sucrose, three times as sweet as both aspartame and acesulfame potassium, and twice as sweet as sodium saccharin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fructose</span> Simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants

Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a ketonic simple sugar found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose. It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, along with glucose and galactose, that are absorbed by the gut directly into the blood of the portal vein during digestion. The liver then converts both fructose and galactose into glucose, so that dissolved glucose, known as blood sugar, is the only monosaccharide present in circulating blood.

7 Up or Seven Up is an American brand of lemon-lime–flavored non-caffeinated soft drink. The brand and formula are owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, although the beverage is internationally distributed by PepsiCo except the UK where it is distributed by Britvic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corn syrup</span> Syrup made from corn used as food additive

Corn syrup is a food syrup which is made from the starch of corn/maize and contains varying amounts of sugars: glucose, maltose and higher oligosaccharides, depending on the grade. Corn syrup is used in foods to soften texture, add volume, prevent crystallization of sugar, and enhance flavor. It can be processed into high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) by using the enzyme D-xylose isomerase to convert a large proportion of its glucose into sweeter fructose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grenadine</span> Fruit syrup with a flavor that is both tart and sweet

Grenadine is a commonly used nonalcoholic bar syrup characterized by its deep red color. It is a popular cocktail ingredient renowned for its flavor as well as its ability to give a reddish or pink tint to mixed drinks. Grenadine is a syrup traditionally made from pomegranate, but may also be made from other fruits such as elder, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry, or commercially sourced natural or artificial flavors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orangina</span> Carbonated citrus beverage

Orangina is a lightly carbonated beverage made from carbonated water, 12% citrus juice, as well as 2% orange pulp. Orangina is sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup and in some markets with artificial sweetener. Natural flavors are also added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunt's</span> Brand of canned tomato products

Hunt's is the name of a brand of preserved tomato products owned by Conagra Brands. The company was founded in 1888, in Sebastopol, California, as the Hunt Bros. Fruit Packing Co., by Joseph and William Hunt. The brothers relocated to nearby Santa Rosa in 1890, and then to Hayward in 1895. This small canning operation grew rapidly, focused on canning the products of California's booming fruit and vegetable industries. By 1941, the plant shipped a hundred million cans of soup, fruits, vegetables, and juices annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-fructose corn syrup</span> Processed corn syrup

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), also known as glucose–fructose, isoglucose and glucose–fructose syrup, is a sweetener made from corn starch. As in the production of conventional corn syrup, the starch is broken down into glucose by enzymes. To make HFCS, the corn syrup is further processed by D-xylose isomerase to convert some of its glucose into fructose. HFCS was first marketed in the early 1970s by the Clinton Corn Processing Company, together with the Japanese Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, where the enzyme was discovered in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glucose syrup</span> Syrup made from the hydrolysis of starch

Glucose syrup, also known as confectioner's glucose, is a syrup made from the hydrolysis of starch. Glucose is a sugar. Maize (corn) is commonly used as the source of the starch in the US, in which case the syrup is called "corn syrup", but glucose syrup is also made from potatoes and wheat, and less often from barley, rice and cassava.p. 21

Corn sugar may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corn Refiners Association</span> American trade association

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is a trade association based in Washington, D.C. It represents the corn refining industry in the United States. Corn refining encompasses the production of corn starch, corn oil, and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingredion</span> American ingredient manufacturer

Ingredion Inc. is an American food and beverage ingredient provider based in Westchester, Illinois, producing mainly starches, non-GMO sweeteners, stevia, and pea protein. The company turns corn, tapioca, potatoes, plant-based stevia, grains, fruits, gums and other vegetables into ingredients for the food, beverage, brewing, and pharmaceutical industries and numerous industrial sectors. It has about 12,000 employees in 44 locations, and customers in excess of 120 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepsi-Cola Made with Real Sugar</span> Soft drink brand

Pepsi-Cola Soda Shop Made with Real Sugar, originally named Pepsi Throwback and Pepsi Made with Real Sugar and still branded that way in some international markets, is a soft drink sold by PepsiCo. The drink is flavored with cane sugar and beet sugar instead of the sugar substitute high-fructose corn syrup that has been used in the standard version of Pepsi within North America since the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican Coke</span> Coca-Cola bottled in Mexico

In the United States, Mexican Coca-Cola, or Mexican Coke or, informally, "Mexicoke", refers to Coca-Cola produced in and imported from Mexico. The Mexican formula that is exported into the U.S. is sweetened with white sugar instead of the high-fructose corn syrup used in the American formula since the early 1980s. Some tasters have said that Mexican Coca-Cola tastes better, while other blind tasting tests reported no perceptible differences in flavor.

High-maltose corn syrup (HMCS) is a food additive used as a sweetener and preservative. The majority sugar is maltose. It is less sweet than high-fructose corn syrup and contains little to no fructose. It is sweet enough to be useful as a sweetener in commercial food production, however. To be given the label "high", the syrup must contain at least 50% maltose. Typically, it contains 40–50% maltose, though some have as high as 70%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Added sugar</span> Caloric sweeteners added to food and beverages

Added sugars or free sugars are sugar carbohydrates added to food and beverages at some point before their consumption. These include added carbohydrates, and more broadly, sugars naturally present in honey, syrup, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates. They can take multiple chemical forms, including sucrose, glucose (dextrose), and fructose.

Citizens for Health is a U.S. non-profit organization which advocates on issues affecting nutrition, obesity, dietary supplements, food labeling and other health matters.

Renee Dufault is an American research scientist and credited with the development of the first nutritional epigenetics model for autism and ADHD. A former Food and Drug Administration researcher and whistleblower, who brought media attention to three separate studies that discovered mercury contained within high fructose corn syrup. After several years, Dufault and her independent research team asserted a direct connection between inorganic mercury and glucose levels in the blood that showed dietary inorganic mercury exposure may be a risk factor in the development of diabetes.

References

  1. ↑ "Big Sugar's Sweet Little Lies". Mother Jones magazine. November–December 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ "CSPI to Sue Cadbury Schweppes over "All Natural" 7UP". Center for Science in the Public Interest. 11 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  3. ↑ "21 Code of Federal Regulations § 101.22". Ecfr.gpoaccess.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  4. ↑ Letter to Corn Refiners Association, July 3, 2008 Archived September 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Lorraine Heller (2007-01-15). "Cadbury scraps 'natural' label on 7UP" . Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  6. ↑ "7UP, Now 100% Natural Flavors". Dr Pepper/Seven Up. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  7. ↑ "Corn Refiners Association homepage". Corn.org. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  8. ↑ http://www.sweetsurprise.com/, YouTube, YouTube Archived May 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "HFCS Rebranding As "Corn Sugar" – Consumerist". Consumerist.com. 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  10. ↑ Jacobson, Michael F (June 23, 2008). "Corn Refiners' Ad Campaign Called Deceptive*". Center for Science in the Public Interest . Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  11. 1 2 McLaughlin, Lisa (September 17, 2008). "Is High-Fructose Corn Syrup Really Good for You?". Time Magazine . Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  12. ↑ Kim severson (March 21, 2009). "Sugar Is Back on Food Labels, This Time as a Selling Point". The New York Times .
  13. ↑ February 26, 2009 Official Facts about Pepsi Throwback & Mountain Dew Throwback Bevreview.com
  14. ↑ Dublin Dr Pepper History Archived 2005-12-04 at the Wayback Machine dublindrpepper.com
  15. ↑ "Coca-Cola Bottling Lehigh Valley". Lehighvalleycoke.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  16. ↑ "Mexican Coke a Welcome Addition..." Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  17. ↑ "High-fructose corn syrup cut from Hunt's ketchup". News & Record . Associated Press. 2010-05-17. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  18. ↑ "Hunt's Manages To Sneak High-Fructose Corn Syrup Back Into Its Ketchup After 2 Years Without". News & Record . Associated Press. 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  19. ↑ "Simply Heinz product page".
  20. ↑ Melanie Warner (April 30, 2010). "For Corn Syrup, the Sweet Talk Gets Harder". The New York Times .
  21. ↑ "The Impact of One Man's Outrage, Organic Connections". Organicconnectmag.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  22. ↑ "CORN REFINERS PETITION FDA FOR USE OF "CORN SUGAR" AS ALTERNATE NAME FOR HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP ELIMINATING CONSUMER CONFUSION IS THE GOAL" (Press release). Archived from the original on October 26, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Database of Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Reviews". Accessdata.fda.gov. 2006-10-31. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  24. ↑ Melnick, Meredith (September 14, 2010). "High Fructose Corn Syrup Wants A New Name". Time Magazine . Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  25. ↑ Parker-Pope, Tara (2010-09-23). "Help Rename High-Fructose Corn Syrup - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  26. ↑ Andrew Weil (September 24, 2010). "Fortunately, 'Corn Sugar' Has Become a Sticky PR Mess". The Huffington Post . Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  27. 1 2 Landa, Michael, Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (May 31, 2012). "Response to Petition from Corn Refiners Association to Authorize "Corn Sugar" as an Alternate Common or Usual Name for High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)". Food and Drug Administration . Retrieved July 2, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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