More finished goods are touting their “high-fructose corn syrup-free" labels as consumers battle weight issues, but some in the industry say this nutritive sweetener is unduly getting a bad rep.
In a Chicago Tribune article, Emily Bryson York, noted all dietary ingredients are scrutinized like never before, which offers confusion to consumers, but also the opportunity for food manufacturers to differentiate themselves from competitors.
A recently popular way to separate products is by which sweetener they use, she said. And, it seems high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the new devil. Many big companies, such as Sara Lee Corp, Hunt's, Kraft Foods, Gatorade and Starbucks, have reformulated products to avoid using HFCS.
The media hasn’t improved HFCS’s image, as the article noted magazines, websites, books and movies have said it’s an unhealthy addition to the diet. She added first lady Michelle Obama has said that she won't feed her daughters products containing the ingredient.
Scientists have also gotten on board with recent studies focused on HFCS and its effect on weight and diabetes. A Princeton University study reported long-term consumption of HFCS leads to abnormal increases in body fat, especially around the belly.
However, medical and nutrition experts have said HFCS is metabolized the same way as sugar, honey and other nutritive sweeteners.
And, just because something doesn’t have HFCS doesn’t mean it’s healthy, according to a nutritionist quoted in the article. Keri Gans, of the American Dietetic Association, said both HFCS and sugar provide a lot of calories and no nutritional value. She recommended people eat fewer baked good and processed foods.
Consumers may not even be that interested in HFCS-free goods, according to a spokesperson from the Corn Refiners Association, who said 3.6 percent of consumers are concerned about HFCS.
Still, demand is down whether it is from consumers’ choice or manufacturers’ preference. The article added the price of HFCS is rising due to increased ethanol production in recent years, which has increased the price of corn and, consequently, of corn sweeteners. But it is still cheaper than sugar—the average price of high-fructose corn syrup during fiscal 2009 was 31 cents a pound, compared with 36 cents a pound for sugar.
