Topical Tuesday 24 - Corn Sugar (A.K.A. High Fructose Corn Syrup)

On Tuesday the producers of high fructose corn syrup, the Corn Refiners Association, applied to the FDA to change the name of their product on nutrition labels. The Corn Refiners Association would like to change the name to “corn sugar”; they feel corn sugar more adequately describes their product.

The name change comes in the midst of a public outcry against high fructose corn syrup. People have begun swearing off high fructose corn syrup, blaming it for all the obesity in America. For some reason people think sugar is a healthier option and won’t contribute to obesity. Sugar and high fructose corn syrup have practically the same nutritional value; food companies just began using high fructose corn syrup because it was cheaper than sugar.

Whether soda or juices, the two biggest targets of the outcry, are sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup, they’re still unhealthy. I gave up soda for five years because I knew that high fructose corn syrup wasn’t healthy for me, just as unhealthy as the same amount of sugar. I just don’t understand the outrage over high fructose corn syrup; it is sugar and sugar isn’t healthy. Are people going to get upset when they find out bacon is unhealthy, too?

Sugar, in whatever form, isn’t that good for you. It’s full of calories and has no real nutritional value. In moderation, though, it’s fine, just like any other bad food. If parents are worried about childhood obesity, they shouldn’t ask companies to take high fructose corn syrup out of their products; parents should be the ones to take the bottles of soda and juice out of their children’s hands.

How do you eat unhealthy foods in moderation? What’s your plan?