Today, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) isn’t on ABC’s The View because Phil, is introducing a bunch of high fructose corn syrup free products! So what’s with HFCS anyway, and why are we hearing about it and seeing it everywhere and in everything?
HFCS is a sweetener used ubiquitously is processed foods and beverages, including crackers, salad dressing, soft drinks, juices, barbeque sauces, yogurt, bread, cookies, frozen entrees, canned soup etc- Check out some of the food labels in your pantry and your sure to find it. HFCS is made up of corn syrup that has undergone processing to change the glucose molecules into fructose- both of which are simple sugars, fructose is more than twice as sweet as glucose- and then is mixed with pure corn syrup (100 percent glucose), to produce the desired sweetness. HFCS increases shelf life of processed foods, is cheap- about half the price of cane sugar, and is easy to incorporate in food manufacturing. Sounds like the perfect ingredient…
Currently, life is not so sweet for HFCS as the ‘dangers’ and controversy associated with consumption have been headlined for months. HFCS has its critics and its supporters. Some critics say it is a toxic chemical that contributes to weight gain, by tricking satiety mechanisms in the brain and thus affecting appetite. Supporters dispute these claims and say HFCS is comparable to table sugar.
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