AcocellaMatrix1

Collage information: The image above shows a simplified version of some of the relationships that constitute the HFCS matrix. The corn is refined into a similar structure to regular table sugar with much of the research done funded by the corn industry. This research yields results that say that HFCS is no different nutritionally from regular table sugar. However, the fact is that the newly developed structures are more easily and quickly absorbed into the blood stream. HFCS is much cheaper than sugar so it is used in a large number of products. The average American consumes about 132 Calories of HFCS per day. This has shown to have serious health risks.

Corn cob image: Businessweek http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/consumer_prices/source/9.htm HFCS structure image: "Dangers of High-Fructose Corn Syrup" http://www.realfitnessblog.com/2008/09/19/the-dangers-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup/ Corn Refiners Association Logo: Corn Refiners Association Website http://www.corn.org/ Spoonful of HFCS image: http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2010/09/15/corn-syrup-makers-rename-high-fructose-sweetener/ Products containing HFCS: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6241429.html Family photo: http://www.goc.state.md.us/job_openings.html Background cornfield image: http://www.e85nj.org/

Recently there has been an increased concern with the health effects of high fructose corn syrup. So what is it? What are its effects on human health? What are its effects on the environment? Who cares about it?

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener derived from corn starch that has been chemically altered. The sugar glucose is changed into fructose. It is different from regular cane sugar in its ratios of glucose to fructose in composition. HFCS either contains 42% or 55% fructose, 3% larger sugar molecules known as saccharides, and the remaining part being mainly glucose. Normal table sugar is composed of 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The manufacturing process of the HFCS leaves the fructose molecules unbound and more easily and readily absorbed into the body.
 * What is it?**

Pro HFCS: · Extends shelf life of products · Cheaper than sugar · Same number of calories as sugar and seem to be metabolized similarly in the body o See Youtube video of advertising commercial ([1] “High Fructose…” 2010) · It has many uses other than sweetening ([2] “In a World…” 2008) o Keeps cut lettuce leaves from turning brown o Avoid crystals in ice cream o Avoid pizza sauce from getting the crust soggy in frozen pizza Con HFCS: It has been argued that HFCS is a cause of the rising obesity and diabetes rates in the world and especially in America between the 1960s and 2000. See health effects section below for more on the potential risks. In addition to the health risks to humans, corn is a sustainability problem due to our extreme dependence on the crop and the environmental impacts as explained below.
 * Why Corn instead of Sugar?**

A Princeton University research team supported by the U.S. Public Health Service found that “in addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat…and a rise in circulation blood fats…” The researchers proved that their lab rats that were given water sweetened with HFCS in addition to a regular diet of rat food gained much more weight than those whose water was sweetened with regular sugar. ([3] Parker 2010) These findings are the most recent. Note that the studies noted in this article that have found that HFCS is no worse than regular sugar were done in 2006 and 2007.
 * Health Effects??**

America’s dependence on corn is a major problem. Over 40% of the world’s total corn is grown in the US. Corn production requires an immense amount of water. 900 liters of water are needed to produce one kilogram of corn. ([4] Garita 2010) Corn is produced in states that have very little water so expensive irrigation systems must be put in place. The greenhouse gasses emitted by the construction vehicles and farm equipment must be taken into account as well. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers also have a negative impact on the environment. All of these harsh chemicals can easily contaminate nearby waterways. In addition, the practice of single crop production has serious environmental consequences.
 * Corn Dependence!! And the Environmental Impacts**

What role does the government play? Should the government step in to help combat the obesity and diabetes epidemics?
 * Politics & Media Play a Role**

Lobbyists want there to be an alternative name for high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, to help make it sound less like it has high levels of sugars. According to the FDA, HFCS is a “natural” product so any product that contains the sweetener can still be labeled “natural” as well. ([7] Homepage, 2010)

American farmers receive subsidies for their corn productions. The government encourages the production of corn due to its multiple uses. Protective tariffs enforced by the government also help the corn industry. Recently, with the ability to extract ethanol from corn and the means to use this ethanol as fuel for cars, the government has supported a campaign to encourage the use of this new “clean” fuel.

Clearly the corn industry has one of the largest concerns in the production and use of HFCS. The Corn Refiners Association is composed of seven companies. They, along with other such groups, have created websites which is meant to convince the public that HFCS is not as evil as many people this it is. These semi-propaganda websites are reminiscent of Tobacco companies’ attempts to convince Americans that tobacco does not have serious health risks. Another such organization with similar interests in the battle against the bad reputation of HFCS is Omnicom Group DDB. [5, 6, 7] Another such stakeholder is the Iowa Corn Growers Association ([2] “In a World…” 2008).
 * Stakeholders**

A huge issue is that industry is funding the research being done. A group of scientists from Yale studying the effects of HFCS consumption found that results of research “differed significantly when studies funded and not funded by the food industry were compared”. It is important to note that these researchers were unfunded by industry and found there to be some increased coincidence between intake of soft drinks (which contain HFCS) and rising body weights. ([8] Vartanian 2007)

Researchers have found that short term results have suggested that fructose consumption does not cause a difference in measured metabolic responses from sucrose in lean women. In this peer reviewed article posted by the Corn Refiners Association it was concluded that further research was needed to determine if the findings were consistent in individuals of other body types. This study focused on one day of consumption and the day after consumption. ([9] Melanson 2006)

Another peer reviewed article posted by the Corn Refiners Association found that there was a lack of evidence to contribute obesity to drinks containing HFCS. It stated that there are other factors to consider such as lifestyle, fat intake, and genetics of the individual. ([10] Sun 2008)

American consumers are also large players in this issue. The average American consumes 132 Calories per day of HFCS alone. The intake of sweetener rose 1000% between 1970 and 1990. ([8] Vartanian 2007) With HFCS in thousands of products all over grocery store shelves and on fast food menus, it’s no wonder there is such an increase in consumption of the sweetener. More specifically, children who are coerced by advertising for soft drinks and candies with high concentrations of the sweetener are at risk for the health problems from long term consumption. Americans are forced to support the corn industry by paying taxes that go to the subsidies paid to corn farmers. ([11] “Politics…” 2009) This is what keeps the prices of HFCS low and thus the extensive use of corn. It is a cycle which is not easily broken.

Works Cited and References:

[1] “High Fructose Corn Syrup Ad.” Youtube, 2010. []

[2] “In a World Without Corn…” Iowa Corn Growers Association, 2008. []

Parker, Hilary. “A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain.” 2010. [3] []

Garita, Milena. “Some Corny Facts.” 2010. [4] []

“Corn Refiners Association.” Sourcewatch.com. [5] []

Corn Refiners Association homepage [6] []

Homepage- Corn Refiners Association media page by Omnicom Group DDB, 2010. [7] []

Vartanian, Lenny R., Marlene B. Schwartz, Kelly D. Brownell. “Effects of Soft Drink Consumption on Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Yale University, 2007. [8] []

Melanson, Kathleen J., Linda Zukley, Joshua Lowndes, Von Nguyen, Theodor J. Angelopoulos, James Rippe. “Effects of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose consumption on circulation glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin and on appetite in normal-weight women.” 2006. [9] []

Sun, Sam Z., Mark W. Empie. “Lack of findings for the association between obesity risk and usual sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adults.” 2007. [10] []

“Politics and High Fructose Corn Syrup.” 2009. [11] []

Blog about the Corn Fructose Lobby: [12] [] [13] []

Corn Refiners Association list of peer reviewed articles: [14] []

Corn Refiners Association list of member companies: [15] []

Iowa Corn Growers Association: [16] []