The ads promoting high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that are airing on TV irritate me to no end and I know they bother a few of you as well. 
The controversy surrounding the ad campaign, which is estimated to cost around $20 to $30 million, continues to grow. The basic premise of the ads is that HFCS is natural since it is made from corn (they don't mention how processed the syrup truly is) and that it is just like sugar. The ads aim to make you feel like a paranoid health freak for avoiding the corn sweetener, but CBS News decided to do a little research of their own on the scientific research behind the ads. What they found is unsurprising and not so sweet.
Six studies are cited on Sweet Surprise ads sponsored by the Corn Refiners Association. Three of the studies were funded by companies involved in the industry: Pepsi Co., the American Beverage Association, and a food, chemical and drug company lobbying group. Two of the studies were never published, so the funding is not public record. The last study was funded by a Dutch company with ties to the sugar industry. Children’s Hospital Boston researched the conclusions of nutrition studies and found that the outcomes of these studies were four to eight times more likely to be favorable towards that funding company. It seems that scientific conclusion can unfortunately be bought and sold.
To see a few facts about HFCS from independent research, just read more.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest funded a four-year study on soft drink consumption. Soft drinks are how the majority of Americans consume mainline HFCS. Soda, it turns out, contributes to the rise in obesity due to the large amount of non-nutritious calories in the beverage. Other studies have indicated that appetite, which decreases after eating, actually decreases less when drinking fructose sweetened beverages, which leads to eating more.
The ultimate take home message, is not the debate that HFCS is just like sugar, but that we should all avoid consuming large quantities of empty calories.
For a little more science on the subject check out this video spoof of the pro HFCS popsicle ad.
Roberto Cavalli
Zoppini
Petit Bateau
Some points are valid, but all sugar will increase the chances of diabetes. Plus, HFCS is still better than something like Aspertaime or Sucralose.
Also, on the bottom of all the ads it says who funded them.
1I just try to avoid all sugar...regular, HFCS, etc. I'm not a freak about it...I'll eat a dessert every now and then. But I try to choose low sugar options when possible.
2With my stupid allergy to cane sugar HFCS is my saving grace when I don't want to pay scary prices for something made with honey, agave nectar, or crystaline fructose. It is rather absurd though. The issue is that our body does not recognize the altered chemical and we get no feeling of satiation like we do from sugar. HFCS saves me when it comes to bread, frozen pizza, sauces, etc. However I am way in the minority on this one. How is it even around that much anymore with so much corn going towards ethanol in the food to fuel economy conversion anyway?
3Fit - which IS better to consume, HFCS or an artificial sweetener?
4These premises are ridiculous. I have cut HFCS out of my diet except for the occassional slushie) and I am glad to have done so! The biggest convincer for me? I think it was a Juicy Juice commercial where it had the kids in the play dressed up alike fruit, and then a kid dressed up as HFCS came out and was just dripping goo haha. gross.
5I would have to disagree with Digital Angel...I think Asparatame and Sucralose are much better than sugar for us...They can't cause diabetes or anything. I think diet sodas are bad for us, but adding spelnda with fiber (1 gram of fiber per packet...makes it MUCH EASIER to reach that 25-30g a day range) to my coffee or tea is a much better optipno than sugar...
6Generally, I stay away from all sugars. Most of my food are low-glycemic.
7I'm proud to be a paranoid health freak!
8I prefer to stay away from food that have it because there is no good reason why it needs to be in things like bread or why I would actually need it in my diet and like the spoof commercial pointed out, you can't have something in moderation when it's in so many things even though I luckily don't eat a lot of those things.
9My husband and I laughed at these ads. I know they're out there, but I personally don't know anyone who is naive enough to believe that corn syrup is a-ok just because its corn-based.
10first of all, eating sugar does NOT CAUSE diabetes. second of all, i feel much better/healthier since i have almost entirely cut HFCS out of my diet (except for ketchup and a few other exceptions). i feel like i have less cravings and i'm hungry less. even if it is just mental, i'm happy with it!
11I do not like these adds. Grr...
12Didn't Fit just posted about MODERATION when it comes to eating? And I know it has been said to death in this site that the least your food is processed, the better.
13It is difficult to find natural alternatives to HFC but they are out there. I'd rather have HFC over Aspartame or Sucralose any day all -- day long though.
14@xtina: uh, yeah, eating too much sugar can cause type 2 diabetes (not type 1). Eating sugar spikes insulin. Repeated spiking of insulin can cause your cells to become insulin resistant. Insulin resistance = diabetes. It's a pretty simple mechanism that has been known for a while now.
15If it's on TV it must be true, right?
16What also irritates me is that the corn is all genetically modified too so even if we were eating the corn that the HFCS is processed from, we'd still get fat.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/23/FDDS12UH12.D...
this is a great article by Marion Nestle
17We've completely eliminated HFCS from our diets. Took a little doing, but we're there. I'm sure my oldest daughter gets some at school since they push sweets. It disgusts me that the food industry has turned so money hungry that they cut corners anyway possible to make a buck.
18Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.