Have you seen these new commercials on television? The ones that are trying to convince us all that high fructose corn syrup is exactly like sugar? I think one of the ads says somegthing like,” I guess you don’t care about what you feed your kids!”
Sweet Surprise is a website put out by Corn Refiners Association of America and they are the ones behind the campaign.
After years of hearing and reading that HFCS is bad for us and should be avoided, even though it is in virtually all processed foods, a new ad campaign is running to “set the record straight.”
HFCS is believed to be a major cause of obesity in Americans. It is one of those ingredients that is in almost everything. Go run over to your pantry or refrigerator and have a look. Go on, I’ll wait. Were you surprised? I was the first time that I was made aware of HFCS. Canned tomatoes? Bread? Salad dressing? Yogurt? It is crazy!
I had read a few things about HFCS in the media, but reading the book The Omnivore’s Dilemma made me really understand the reason we have HFCS to begin with.
The ad campaign has me wondering they are now pushing so hard for people to believe HFCS is the same as sugar. Are they seeing a drop in sales as people become pickier about what they eat? I know that I read all of my food labels and chose things that do not contain HFCS, among other additives, when possible.
What about you? Do you actively avoid high fructose corn syrup?
Hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated ingredients are my top one to avoid (even if the front of the box CLAIMS no trans-fat per serving), but HFCS is a close second. However, I sometimes have to cave due to budget or whatever, and HFCS is the one that’s harder to avoid!
Comment by Brigitte — September 23, 2008 @ 5:21 am
Yes. We avoid HFCS like the plague.
Who needs extra chemicals in my bread?
Comment by DW — September 23, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
I avoid it as much as possible, but sometimes you can’t get away from it! My general rule is that it’s okay if it’s not in the top 5 ingredients.
Comment by Karly — September 24, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
the new adds really bug me…I see the difference HFCS makes in my childrens diet as compaired to regular sugar…THEY DO NOT ACT THE SAME! We do our best to avoid it…if we can’t then it is at least not in the top 5 ingredients. Even my children say “we shouldn’t have that because it has HFCS”
Comment by Rachael — September 24, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
I have a couple things to say. For one I think this is a wonderful website. I’ve always pushed my kids to take responsibilty for themselves. With this site they are even more excited about helping out. They cant wait to do more chores to earn more points, just so they can get new outfits and stuff for their house. They ask what else they can do.
As far as the whole sugar thing. Should I quote?? You can put lipstick on a pig and it will still be a pig. There are so many names for ingredients anymore. You arent always going to be able to control everything that a child intakes, but you can monitor the amount. My kids dont get candy, at home that is. I have strict guidelines. At grandma and grandpas they get sugar free cookies and candy and are only allowed sugar free gum. When either of my girls have sugar anything they act crazy. Its a learned habit I believe. They know they cant get stuff like that at home but they know they can get candy or gum other places. Kids will be kids and they will eat things we dont want them to sometimes. I think society gets a bit carried away at times.
Comment by Nikki — September 24, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
I generally try to avoid HFCS as well. Although, it can be a bit challening to say the least.Just try to find a bottle of ketchup without it! Aunt Millie’s breads are one of the few inexpensive varieties that don’t have HFCS. My kids don’t get to eat high sugar cereal either, EXCEPT on their birthdays and Christmas. HA! You should see their faces when they get to pick out their birthday cereal. HISTARICAL! I’ve seen these commercials and they bother me quite a bit. I can’t imagine that chemically altered anything is all that good for you, especially in your food!
Comment by Stacey — September 26, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
I am with Rachel on this one. The whole family has been restricted from HFCS and Red 40. The behavior improvement is monumental. I must also agree wiht Stacey that i have yet to find any ketchup without HFCS. For most of the things the kids now eat, they use mustard, but would love to find a real ketchup alternative.
Oh yes, did I mention that my hubby’s colesterol is down 30 points and wieght down 25 pouonds just from restricting these things? No HFCS is a win win situation for this family.
Comment by Claire — September 30, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Heinze makes an organic ketchup that is free of HFCS also Muir Glen Organic, but they are more expensive! Just thought I’d let ya know!
Comment by Amy — October 2, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Wanted to add one more thing
We also avoid the Hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated oils, and yes even if the package says Zero trans fat, that only means that there is .5g or less per serving, so eat two servings…and so on and so forth. I recently read that IF you have any trans fat it should be 2g or less per day, so if labels can have .5g per serving and still say it’s zero…isn’t that deceptive advertising? I sure think so! My husband and I decided about a year ago that we were going organic with pretty much everything, we just sacrifice else where if needed. If we must compromise, we get the good stuff for the kids, I think their little bodies are more fragile than our own. Our little girls skin is very sensitive, so even shampoos, lotions, ect have to be organic for them, when I started researching about ingredients in those kinds of things also, it is amazing what is in some products! I hope the world keeps coming toward the organic, or at least natural, products…they are just plain better! 
Comment by Amy — October 2, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
The corn producers have a point in that HFCS is just basically another sugar. Cane sugar is refined from sugarcane, HFCS is refined from corn. The big difference is the source, not the final product.
HFCS came into such high use because the sugarcane farmers were driven out of the country by regulation and the market. Since hardly any sugarcane is grown in the US anymore, and there is tons of corn, it is much cheaper for companies to use HFCS instead of cane sugar whenever possible. It looks like the market may soon force them to switch back, or at least offer a choice, as people rebel against the excessive sweetness and syrupiness of HFCS and look for cane sugar alternatives.
All that being said, I do think there is a difference. I prefer the taste of cane sugar to HFCS. I’ve been known to have Dublin Dr. Pepper, which has cane sugar, shipped to me here in Michigan because it tastes better than Dr. Pepper with HFCS. I prefer Coke with cane sugar, too, but you can’t get it in this country. I’ve started making our own soda here at home so that we can have drinks with natural flavors and cane sugar, with less sugar to boot. It’s not difficult, and like so many homemade products tastes so much better for much less money!
Comment by Solinox — October 3, 2008 @ 9:09 am
Amy – thanks! I will definitely look for that ketchup. It is the one thing in this whole allergy/sensitivity reaction thing that my kids miss. Considering how much better their behavior is now that they are rid of the stuff, it is worth the expense!
Comment by Clarie — October 3, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Solinox – it is not just the excessive sweetness that is a danger for HFCS – something in the processing causes the sugar to be refined in a way that “tricks” the body. The body does not have its sweet tooth satisfied or its hunger satisfied by HFCS so we still feel hungry despite being fully satiated. So we eat more…. Second, the highly potent nature of HFCS requires a ridiculous amount of water to break down in the body. The feeling of thirst is often confused, by little kids especially, as hunger….so they eat more. Third, there is pretty good anecdotal evidence that humans can be addicted to sugar or the sugar taste. There is no arguing that HFCS has the same caloric content as any other sugar – but the taste is so much more enjoyable to us – we tend to get “hooked” and we “like” things with HFCS more so than alternatives without. So we eat more….
Try eliminating all HFCS for a week and I guess you will notice a change in your own “sweet tooth” and what you are craving….
Comment by Greg — October 6, 2008 @ 6:36 pm