I am sure that you have seen the following commercials some time in the last month. And if you haven’t, well, you need to have a look.
Wow. Really? These are actually commercials? I laughed when I saw these.
In case you are not totally up to snuff on your knowledge of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), it is basically syrup made from corn that is refined and modified in order to increase the fructose content, thus making it sweeter than sugar (sugar is 50% glucose and 50% fructose, HFCS is 45% glucose, 55% fructose). This is why you see it on the ingredients list for everything from ketchup at your local fast food restaurant, to sodas like Pepsi and Coca Cola, to those cute little Kiebler Elf cookies in your grocery store snack aisle – it is sweeter than sugar, so less can be used, it is cheaper, and it has a longer shelf life.
Bottom line, I have two things to say about these commercials.
- What is the definition of “moderation”, and to take that a step further, do we {insert Americans} really understand what moderation is? I bring this up considering that 66% of our nation is overweight with almost half of that number (32%) being obese (source – Centers for Disease Control). Not to mention that moderation is especially difficult when HFCS is high on the ingredients list of the majority of packaged foods and frankly, most people don’t even read ingredient lists in the first place.
- The fact that it’s made from corn is irrelevant. As if that is supposed to calm our fears? Why don’t they mention what is done to it after it is plucked from the Earth and taken to the factory where it is mixed in giant vats, highly refined and genetically modified? Notice how carefully they choose their words, i.e. “doesn’t have artificial ingredients”. Lots of things that are bad for us started as things that come from the Earth. Granted heroin, cocaine, cyanide, mercury, and uranium are also natural but I am not comfortable putting them into my body. How about you? Just because something is natural does not consequently mean that it is good for you.
Now, I will admit, I do eat foods with sugar, HFCS, aspartame, etc from time to time and I am not saying that sugar is a much better option. In addition, I am not suggesting that they are lying in any way, cherry picking, yes, but not lying.
What I am saying is that I don’t think this is a very good argument in support of HFCS consumption. I mean, after seeing the commercials, I didn’t shout out, “Oh, snap! 10 points for high fructose corn syrup. Thank goodness it’s made from corn, doesn’t have artificial ingredients, and like sugar, is fine in moderation”.
My point is, the Corn Refiners Association spent all this money to put out commercials defending HFCS and this is the best they could come up with? That in and of itself should tell you something.
What are your thoughts?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I have seen these commericials and my jaw dropped when I did. My first thought was what kind of BS propaganda are they trying to push? I agree with you that what these commericials say are not lies, but as you stated that does not make high fructose corn syrup OK. Not only that, but the comparison between high fructose corn syrup and sugar implies that sugar is something to be looked up to and held in high esteem. Neither are good for you, especially when there are alternative sweetners like stevia and agave syrup that dont the negatives that high fructose corn syrup and sugar have. Once again the almighty dollar rules over morals and good health.
I agree with you! Not much more to add….nice post!
What is funny to me is that they did not try to counter bad claims against them until Dr. Oz said on Oprah to stay away from it. He said it could increase appetite for more sweets. But I try to stay away from them as I don’t need any help with my sweet tooth! Also, poisonous mushrooms are natural. Bet they would not promote them!!! These commercials are ridiculous and make them look desperate. Sugar in it’s raw form was what people long ago enjoyed along with honey, agave and other natural sweet things; but as usual, we take a good thing and ruin it by taking it to extremes! Twinkies and Oreos weren’t part of the plan!!!!!
Missy,
You are so right about how we take a good thing and totally screw it up. I did not even think about raw sugar and forgot about honey too. Mankind always thinks he needs to improve on what nature has already perfected.
Thanks all for the great discussion! Keep those opinions coming.
LOVE this post! I’ve linked to it today on my blog.
Thanks for taking the time to write about these commercials. I first heard about the commercials from a friend who lives in the Midwest among rolling hills of cornfields. She enjoys buying local farmer’s corn, but a what a far stretch HFCS is from corn on the cob! Also, I have to say that the popsicle in the second commercial sure looks unnaturally bright red to me. Natural coloring? Doubtful. Artificial colorings have been linked to hyperactivity and carcinogens. The FDA has already banned the use of some colorings from being used (http://www.fda.gov/).
Anyway, the way I look at it, if a food product is questionable for any reason, I don’t mess with it and wait to find out. When it comes to sweets, I have found several great alternatives to both sugar and corn syrups: agave nectar, stevia, honey, etc.
Thanks Cathy! It seems like these commercials have definitely struck a nerve with many.
Myyearwithout – I agree, I thought that too about the food coloring in both products in the commercials. I have been using agave nectar more and more in my baking, to sweeten plain yogurt, etc and love it and have been a fan of stevia for quite some time.
I was so sad when I had to stop nursing my baby (at nine months) and give her formula. Do you believe that some formulas are made of 42.6% corn syrup solids. Horrible. So terrible.
“Doesn’t have artificial ingredients” – How can they get away with saying that when HFCS is itself an artificial ingredient?
I hadn’t seen these commercials (thanks for embedding them) but my mom has told me about them. As I said to her on our morning walk the other day, “If you have to defend something, it must be problematic.”
I’ve tried to cut HFCS out of my diet. It’s hard. It’s in almost everything! Well, everything that’s processed that I really shouldn’t be eating anyway …
Hi Randy,
Thought I might try to give my two cents on how manufacturers can say HFCS does not have artificial ingredients.
“High fructose corn syrup……..contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients.” – Source http://sweetsurprise.com/hfcsquickfacts.php
The reason they can say no artificial ingredients is the because the FDA does not have a definition for “natural” (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-ind7f.html). There is nothing to distinguish what is natural and artificial, and being the good marketers they are they can claim no artificial ingredients. So the argument goes…..HFCS comes from corn which is natural, HFCS may be a genetically modified and highly processed version of corn, but corn nonetheless….therefore HFCS is “natural”.
Personally, I do not buy into it and feel that the FDA should clearly define how much modification of a food item can be done in order for it to remain “natural”. Next thing we know some company will be passing off biodiesel as a natural food item, because a percentage of it used to be cooking (vegetable) oil.
Corn lobby is obviously huge. England has banned HFCS and Europe is soon to follow. HCFS is poison for our kids and older peeps that have joint inflamation. Ack!!
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