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Corn syrup is a syrup composed mainly of glucose which is made by using a series of two enzymatic reactions to convert the corn starch to corn syrup. Its major use is in commercially prepared foods as a thickener and for its moisture-retaining properties which keep foods moist and helps to maintain freshness. Corn syrup is used to soften texture, add volume, prohibit crystallization and enhance flavor.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a variant in which other enzymes are used to convert some of the glucose into fructose. The resulting syrup is sweeter and more soluble. HFCS are mixed with pure corn syrup to reach their final form. The process by which HFCS is produced was first developed in 1957 and refined by Japanese researchers in the 1970s. HFCS was rapidly introduced in many processed foods and soft drinks in the US over the period of about 1975–1985.

In terms of sweetness, one type of HFCS, HFCS 55, is comparable to table sugar (sucrose). This makes it useful to manufacturers as a possible substitute for table sugar in soft drinks and other processed foods. According to the scientific definition of sugar, fructose and glucose are types of sugar, rather than substitutes for sugar, even though in common usage sugar usually refers specifically to sucrose.

Because of a system of price supports and sugar quotas imposed since May 1982, importing sugar into the United States is prohibitively expensive. High fructose corn syrup, derived from corn, is more economical since the American price of sugar is artificially far higher than the global price of sugar and the price of corn is artificially low due to both government subsidies and dumping on the market as farmers produce more corn annually. The food industry turned to HFCS as a substitute, with both Coca-Cola and Pepsi switching to HFCS in 1984. Today, sweeteners made from corn are the most widely used sweetener, racking up $4.5 billion in annual sales and accounting for 55 percent of the sweetener market. That switch largely reflects the steady growth of high-fructose corn syrup, which climbed from zero consumption in 1966 to 62.6 pounds per person in 2001.

Some controversy has come up over the use of HFCS as a food additive as manufacturers begin to utilize HFCS in an increasing variety of foods, such as breads, cereals, soft drinks, and condiments.

Health Effects

Overconsumption of sugars has been linked to adverse health effects, and most of these effects are similar for HFCS and table sugar. There is a striking correlation between the rise of obesity in the US and the use of HFCS for sweetening beverages and foods, but it has not been proved whether this is coincidence or a causal relationship.

Studies on the effect of HFCS have shown that the increased consumption of fructose can weaken appetite control. HFCS is absorbed differently than other sugars. It doesn't register in the body metabolically the same way that glucose does. When HFCS is consumed it may not increase production of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate appetite and fat storage (while glucose and possibly sucrose does increase the production of leptin), and it may not suppress production of another hormone made by the stomach, ghrelin, that helps regulate food intake (while glucose and possibly sucrose does suppress the production of ghrelin). It has been theorized that when ghrelin levels drop, as they do after eating carbohydrates composed of glucose, hunger declines.

How nice for the food industry. They've uncovered a substance that is sweeter than sugar that potentially doesn't decrease your hunger when you eat it. Consumers will just keep on buying and eating more and more food. Food industry profits will skyrocket--in the short term. The fly in the ointment is that when everyone is so fat they can't even stand up, there's going to be a backlash against the food industry which might affect their long term reputation and profits.

The proportion of children in America who are overweight has tripled since 1987 and now exceeds 17% according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The health problems that this causes include hypertension and type-2 diabetes, formerly known only among the nation's overweight adult population.

Another concern is the action of fructose in the liver, where it is converted into the chemical backbone of trigylcerides more efficiently than glucose. Like low-density lipoprotein -- the most damaging form of cholesterol -- elevated levels of trigylcerides are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Other recent research suggests that fructose may alter the magnesium balance in the body. That could, in turn, accelerate bone loss.

However, there are several studies funded by the food industry and the beverage industry that argue that HFCS is only as unhealthy as sugar.

American Farm Lobby

The preference for high fructose corn syrup over cane sugar amongst the vast majority of American food and beverage manufacturers is largely due to U.S. import quotas and tariffs on sugar. These tariffs significantly increase the domestic U.S. price for sugar, forcing Americans to pay more than twice the world price for sugar, making high fructose corn syrup an attractive substitute in U.S. markets. For instance, soft drink makers like Coca-Cola use sugar internationally but use high fructose corn syrup in their U.S. products.

Large corporations such as Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) lobby for the continuation of these subsidies. Since local and federal laws often put a limit on how much money one particular lobbyist can contribute, ADM's contributions are often given by numerous smaller entities under the authority of ADM. This is commonly called bundling political contributions.

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", despite containing high fructose corn syrup. While the FDA has no definition of "natural", CSPI claims that HFCS is not a “natural” ingredient due to the high level of processing and the use of at least one genetically modifed enzyme required to produce it. On January 12, 2007, Cadbury Schweppes agreed to stop calling 7 Up "All Natural". This lawsuit has been ineffectual as many companies continue to label their HFCS-laden foods as “All Natural” or “100% Natural” with impunity. Bread produced by Nature's Own Bread is labeled as having "No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors," even though some varieties contain HFCS.

Reading the ingredients of all foods that you purchase that you are unsure of the ingredients is a good idea. Even if you are buying food with HFCS in it at least you will know what is in it. The following is a list of some foods that contain HFCS (this list is not all-inclusive and doesn’t include food from fast food restaurants):

Baking and Cooking ingredients

Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs
Nabisco Oreo Cookie Crumbs
Shake n Bake - Tangy Honey Glaze
Shake n Bake - Honey Mustard Glaze
Stove Top Stuffing - Chicken
Stove Top Stuffing - Cornbread
Stove Top Stuffing - Homestyle Herb
Stove Top Stuffing - Pork
Stove Top Stuffing – Turkey

Beverages:

A&W Root Beer
Capri-Sun Iced Tea
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Fruit Punch
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Grape
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Lemonade
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Mountain Cooler
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Orange
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Pacific Cooler
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Red Berry
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Splash Cooler
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Strawberry
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Strawberry/Kiwi
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Surfer Cooler
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Tropical Punch
Capri-Sun Juice Drink - Wild Cherry
Capri-Sun Refreshers - Orange Dragonfruit
Capri-Sun Refreshers - Rasberry Passionfruit
Capri-Sun Refreshers - Strawberry/Kiwi
Capri-Sun Refreshers - Tropical Fruit
Capri-Sun Sport Drink - Berry Ice
Capri-Sun Sport Drink - Clear Cherry Chill
Capri-Sun Sport Drink - Light Speed Lemon Lime
Capri-Sun Sport Drink - Orange Edge
Capri-Sun Sport Drink - Thunder Punch
Coca-Cola
Darigold Chocolate Milk
Hanson's All-Natural Soda (all flavors)
Hanson's Tonic Water
Jones Soda
Newman's Own Pink Lemonade
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Orangenia
Pepsi
PowerAde
Snapple -Cranberry Raspberry Juice Drink
Sprite
Starbucks' Frappuccino
Thomas Kemper Soda's
Tropicana OrangeAde
Tropicana Smoothies
Village Lemonade

Breads: (many breads have HFCS)

Brownberry Breads
Nature's Own Bread
Pepperidge Farm's line of 100% whole grain breads
Sara Lee Heart Healthy Whole Grain Bread.
Thomas English Muffins
Wonderbread

Breakfast Cereals

Kellogg's Frosted Rice Krispies
Kellogg's Tony's Cinnamon Krunchers
Kellogg's Corn Flakes
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
Kellogg's Smorz
Kellogg's Special K Red Berries
Kellogg's All-Bran Bran Buds
Kellogg's All-Bran Extra Fiber
Kellogg's All-Bran Original
Kellogg's Apple Jacks
Kellogg's Cinnamon Crunch Crispix
Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies
Kellogg's Complete Oat Bran Flakes
Kellogg's Complete Wheat Bran Flakes
Kellogg's Fruit Harvest Strawberry Blueberry
Kellogg's Honey Crunch Corn Flakes
Kellogg's Kellogg's Crunchy Blends Just Right Fruit & Nut
Kellogg's Kellogg's Crunchy Blends Low Fat Granola without Raisins
Kellogg's Kellogg's Crunchy Blends Low Fat Granola With Raisins
Kellogg's Mini-Wheats Frosted Bite Size
Kellogg's Mini-Wheats Frosted Original
Kellogg's Mini-Wheats Strawberry
Kellogg's Crunchy Blends Mueslix with Raisins, Dates & Almonds
Kellogg's Product 19
Kellogg's Raisin Bran
Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Cereal
Kellogg's Rice Krispies
Kellogg's Smart Start Antioxidants
Kellogg's Smart Start Soy Protein
Kellogg's Special K
Kellogg's Special K Vanilla Almond
Kellogg's Fruit Harvest Peach Strawberry
Kellogg's SpongeBob SquarePants Cereal
Kellogg's Corn Flakes with Real Bananas
Kellogg's Spider-man Spidey-Berry Cereal
Kellogg's Kellogg's Frosted Flakes 1/3 Less Sugar
Kellogg's Special K low carb lifestyle
Kellogg's Fruit Harvest Banana Berry
Kellogg's Disney Pixar Finding Nemo Cereal
Kellogg's All-Bran Bars Honey Oat
Kellogg's All-Bran Bars Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Kellogg's Disney Pixar The Incredibles
Kellogg's Tiger Power
Kellogg's Smart Start Healthy Heart
Kellogg's Disney Lilo & Stitch
Kellogg's Special K Fruit & Yogurt
Kellogg's Mini Swirlz Fudge Ripple
Kellogg's Toasted Honey Crunch
Kellogg's Cran-Vanilla Crunch
Post Blueberry Morning Cereal

Breakfast Pastries

Eggo Pancakes Buttermilk
Eggo Waf-Fulls Blueberry
Eggo Waf-Fulls Strawberry

Candy Bars:

Hershey's Watchamacallit
Lifesavers - Butter Rum
Lifesavers - Chill-o-mints
Lifesavers - Cryst-o-mint
Lifesavers - Five Flavor Value Pack
Lifesavers - Hard Candy Sours
Lifesavers - Sours
Lifesavers - Tropical Fruits
Lifesavers - Wild Berries
Lifesavers - Wild Cherry
Optimum Opti-Pro Meal Lite Bar
PowerBar

Condiments:

Heinz 57 Sauce
Heinz Ketchup
Hunt's Catsup
Miracle Whip

Cookies and Cakes:

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Squares Caramel Chocolatey Chunk
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Squares Original
Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Squares Rainbow
Kellogg's Cereal & Milk Bars Frosted Flakes
Kellogg's Cereal & Milk Bars Cocoa Krispies
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Spider-man Spidey-Berry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Apple Cinnamon
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Blueberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Chocolate Chip
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Cherry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Chocolate Fudge
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Chocolate Vanilla Creme
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Grape
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Raspberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted S'Mores
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Strawberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Wild Berry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Low Fat Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Star Wars Frosted Lava Berry Explosion
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Caramel Chocolate
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Frosted Cookies & Creme
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Cinnamon Roll
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Low Fat Frosted Chocolate Fudge
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Low Fat Frosted Strawberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Strawberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Yogurt Blasts Blueberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Yogurt Blasts Strawberry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts French Toast
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts SpongeBob SquarePants Wild Bubble-Berry
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts The Incredibles Incrediberry Blast
Nabisco Barnum's Animal Crackers
Nabsico Chips Ahoy
Nabisco Fig Newtons
Nabisco Fig Newtons - Fat Free
Nabisco Fig Newtons - Whole Grain
Nabisco Honey Maid Graham Crackers
Nabisco Lorna Dornes
Nabisco Nilla Wafers
Nabisco Nutter Butter
Nabisco Mallomars
Nabisco Oreo Cookies
Nabisco Snackwells - Creme Sandwich
Nabisco Teddy Grahams
Nutri-Grain Twists Apple Cobbler
Nutri-Grain Twists Cappuccino & Creme
Nutri-Grain Twists Strawberry Cheesecake
Nutri-Grain Muffin Bars Banana
Nutri-Grain Muffin Bars Cinnamon Raisin
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Apple Cinnamon
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Blueberry
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Cherry
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Mixed Berry
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Raspberry
Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Strawberry
Nutri-Grain Chewy Granola Bars Honey Oat & Raisin
Nutri-Grain Chewy Granola Bars Chocolatey Chunk
Nutri-Grain Chewy Granola Bites Chocolatey Chip
Nutri-Grain Minis Yogurt Icing Blueberry
Nutri-Grain Minis Yogurt Icing Strawberry
Nutri-Grain Yogurt Bars Strawberry Yogurt
Nutri-Grain Yogurt Bars Vanilla Yogurt
Nutri-Grain Muffin Bars Blueberry
Nutri-Grain Chewy Granola Bites Caramel Nut Crunch
Grandma's Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies

Crackers:

Kraft Cheese Nips
Nabisco Harvest Crisps - Wheat Thins 5 Grain
Nabisco Ritz Bits - Peanut Butter
Nabisco Ritz Bits - Graham Cracker S'mores
Nabisco Ritz Chips - Cheddar - Oven-Toasted Crunch
Nabisco Ritz Crackers
Nabisco Ritz Crackers - Low Sodium
Nabisco Sociables
Nabisco Wheat Thins
Nabisco Wheat Thins - Baked
Nabisco Wheat Thins - Low Sodium
Nabisco Wheat Thins - Multi-Grain
Nabisco Wheat Thins - Ranch
Nabisco Wheat Thins - Reduced Fat

Dairy:

Breakstones Cottage Cheese & Toppings - Peach
Breakstones Cottage Cheese & Toppings - Pineapple
Breyer's Yogurt -Fruit on the Bottom - Strawberry Lowfat
Cool Whip
Cool Whip - Extra-Creamy
Cool Whip - Lite
Knudsen - Cottage Double (Peach)
Knudsen - Cottage Double (Pineapple)
Knudsen - Cottage Double (Strawberry)
Yoplait Yogurts

Drink Mixers:

Saratoga Salsa Bloody Mare Mix
El Paso Chili Key Lime Margarita Mix

Frozen Foods:

Fruits and Vegetables:

B&M Original Baked Beans
Contadina Tomato Paste
Claussen Pickles - Bread and Butter Chips
Claussen Pickles - Kosher Dill Burger Slices
Claussen Pickles - Sweet Gherkins
Claussen Pickle Relish
Del Monte canned petite diced tomatoes with italian seasonings
Del Monte Fruit Naturals Red Grapefruit
Heinz Pickle Relish
Mott's Applesauce
Mt. Olive Sweet Relish
Mt. Olive Bread and Butter Pickles
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Ice Creams:

Ben & Jerry's - Chubby Hubby
Ben & Jerry's - Cherry Garcia
Ben & Jerry's - Neapolitan Dynamite
Ben & Jerry's - Cherry Garcia Body & Soul
Ben & Jerry's - Cherry Garcia Low Fat Frozen Yogurt Pints
Ben & Jerry's - Cherry Garcia Original Ice Cream Singles
Dreyer's - Girl Scouts Samoas Cookie Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Almond Praline Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Cherry Chocolate Chip Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Cherry Vanilla Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Cookies 'N Cream Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Dulce de Leche Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Nestle Toll House Cookie Swirl Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Spumoni Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Toffee Bar Crunch Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Turtle Sundae Grand Ice Cream
Dreyer's - Ultimate Caramel Cup Grand Ice Cream

Jams, Jellies, and Syrups:

Eggo Syrup Original Syrup
Eggo Syrup Buttery Syrup
Eggo Syrup Lite Syrup
Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Knott's Boysenberry preserves
Smucker's Jelly

Meats:

Oscar Meyer Pickle and Pimento Loaf

Pastries:

Nabisco Nilla Wafer Pie Crust
Nabisco Oreo Pie Crust
Jello No-Bake - Chips Ahoy
Jello No-Bake - Oreo
Pepperidge Farm's Puff Pastry sheets

Salad Dressings:

Emeril's Italian Vinegrette
Kraft Salad Dressing - Light done Right Creamy French
Kraft Salad Dressing - Thousand Island Fat Free
Maple Grove Farms Caesar Fat Free
Miracle Whip Salad Dressing
Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - Hot n Spicy
Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - Light
Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - Light Super Easy Squeeze
Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - Non-fat
Miracle Whip Salad Dressing - Super Easy Squeeze
Wishbone Ranch Dressing
Wish-Bone Classic Caesar

Sauces:

A1 Steak Sauce Marinade - Cajun
A1 Steak Sauce Marinade - Chicago
A1 Steak Sauce Marinade - Teriyaki
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce - Honey Smoke
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce - Smokehouse Hickory
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce - Sweet Hickory Smoke
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce - Texas Style Mesquite
Crazy Jerry's Alotta Bull BBQ Sauce - Torrid Toro
Holy Smoke - Sticky Wings Glaze
Holy Smoke - Bar B Q Glaze
Jim Beam Steak Sauce
Jim Beam Herb & Garlic Gourmet Marinade
Jim Beam Lemon & Herb Gourmet Marinade
Kraft Barbecue Sauce
Penn State Nittany Lions Lime Grilling Sauce
Pork Rubbers Original Competition BBQ Sauce
Tuttorosso Marinara
Tuttorosso Three Cheese
Tuttorosso Traditional
Tuttorosso Flavored With Meat
Tuttorosso Mushroom
Tuttorosso Tomato & Basil
Tuttorosso Tomato, Olive & Garlic
Virginia Gentleman Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Snacks:

Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese Strawberry Cheesecake Bar
Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese Chocolate covered Strawberry Cheesecake Bar
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - All Star Burgers
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - All-star Hot Dogs
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Chicken Dunks
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Chicken Strips
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Cracker Stackers
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Nachos
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Peanut Butter Pile-ups
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Pizza
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Pizza Dunks
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Pizza Pile-ups
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Pizza Stix
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Pizza Swirls
Oscar Mayer Lunchables – Tacos

Soups:

Campbells Vegatable soup