High Fructose Corn Syrup High Fructose Corn Syrup is often used as a sugar replacement. This is because in the US it is cheaper from a combination of Corn subsidies and sugar taxes, also because HFCS is transported as a liquid as opposed to sugar, which is a solid. Even though there are multiple steps that require expensive enzymes, the HFCS is still less expensive than the alternative. The lower cost means food producers are able to produce their food and drinks for cheaper and also earn more profit on the goods they sell.

The process to develop HFCS was discovered in the 1970’s. Its popularity in America rose quickly; its use saw an increase from 3 million tons in 1980 to 8 million tons in 1995. HFCS use surpassed the use of sugar in the late 90’s and continues today to be more widely used. More HFCS is consumed than sugar by Americans.

The process is more difficult than the process to get sugar from sugar cane or beets. There are multiple steps involved including three enzymes needed to break down the complex glucose molecules of the cornstarch to the simple glucose and fructose sugars. Each enzyme breaks down the molecule to smaller pieces, until the manufacturer ends up with 40% fructose and 50 to 52% glucose. Other sugar molecules are also still in the mixture. The final two steps result in the 55% fructose mixture that the industry requires. A 90% mix of fructose is poured back in to the original mixture of glucose and fructose.

There are four companies that control 85 percent of the $2.6 billion industry: Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, Staley Manufacturing Co, and CPC International. With as much control in the industry as these four major companies have price fixing has been an issue, such as in the mid-1990s when the FBI looked into Archer Daniels Midland for fixing prices of HFCS, citric acid and lysine.

The few positives of high fructose corn syrup deal with their cost and relative ease of production and transportation compared to its counterparts, sugar and beets. There are more negatives associated with HFCS.

One study looked at the effect of sucrose on rats. The rats developed many health problems. Since sucrose is made up of glucose and fructose researchers decided to see which of the two was causing the problems in the rats. One group was given large amounts of glucose and the other fructose. The study found that when given fructose there were disastrous results for the rats. The male rats in the group didn’t reach adulthood. They had anemia, high cholesterol, and heart hypertrophy- a disease where the heart grows until it explodes. In combination with copper deficiency – a problem that is widespread in America- the duo can cause the problems with collagen production. The rat’s bodies withered away without collagen. The females were the exception to this finding. But they were unable to give birth to live young.

An article released in 2009 explained how scientists studied samples of commercial High Fructose Corn Syrup. They found that almost 50% of the samples contained some mercury. In the second study, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) found that nearly a third of 55 popular brand named foods contained mercury. These findings were only in the HFCS that used a certain type of chemical. Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, released a statement explaining how the industry had switched to mercury-free reagents and that the studies the researchers used were from 2005.

There are many alternatives, such as real cane sugar or beet sugar. Others are Organic sugar and evaporated cane juice, Rice syrup, other grain-based sweeteners, and Tapioca syrup. Rice syrup is the most common grain-based substitute for High Fructose Corn Syrup. Rice syrup is already used to enhance the flavor of soymilk. A negative aspect of the rice syrup is that it is more expensive than corn. Another substitute could be honey in some foods. Honey has antioxidants that can help fight cancer and other diseases. Researchers believe one day honey can replace High Fructose Corn Syrup.

The few positives for High Fructose Corn Syrup benefit the manufacturer, while studies have shown that the negative effects on consumers can lead to many health problems for the person.

Bibliography

(2009, January 26). Study Finds High-fructose corn syrup contains mercury. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html

(n.d.). Many non-GM alternatives to high fructose corn syrup are available. Retrieved from

http://non-moreport.com/high_fructose_corn_syrup.php

(2004, December 23). Honey Could Be Healthy Alternative To High-fructose Corn Syrup In Halloween Candy. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041220012702.htm