Sunday, July 27, 2008

Big Brother sez Eetchyoor Chemikillz

Saw this on the PN Forums this morning.

"Recently, the Corn Refiners Associati
on announced that they are launching a $30 million advertising campaign that is aimed at convincing consumers that HFCS [high fructose corn syrup] is a natural compound, fundamentally the same as honey. Of course, unlike honey, HFCS is the product of a complex, chemical-intensive refining process that takes place in an industrial setting, but why quibble? Strangely, the FDA has agreed with them. Unfortunately, rather than convince me that HFCS is all-natural, the FDA's stance has made me seriously question the integrity of the federal government when it comes to food purity."

Incidentally, here's how HFCS is made:

"Cornstarch is first treated with a purified enzyme, alpha-amylase, to produce shorter chains of sugars called polysaccharides. . . . The polysaccharides (short chains of sugar) are then broken down even further by adding a second enzyme called glucoamylase. . . . The addition of glucoamylase to the polysaccharides yields the simple sugar glucose."

Natural indeed.

As quoted on this site,
Debra Eschmeyer at the Ethicurian puts it best:

"I find the Corn Refiners Association’s chutzpah unbelievable. Our already failing health care system is ill-prepared for the absolute crush and cost of the coming wave of diabetics, yet industry is spending millions of dollars to persuade us to partake of even more empty calories. With 30% of the U.S. population considered obese, the last thing our country needs is more sugar of any kind."

4 comments:

Lindsey Broere said...

Nice....I'm even more convinced that the FDA really cares nothing about our health. I was going through the cabinets and fridge today getting rid of everything with Yellow 5 in it--did you know they are linking it to thyroid cancer now, and ADHD and a TON of other things...you probably did...GEEZE. Craziness!

Anonymous said...

HFCS is 55% fructose - honey is only about 40% fructose. That's a HUGE difference biochemically in how the body processes the sugars. HUGE.

Honey also has vitamins and minerals (though trace amounts).

Grrrrrr.

Bisous

Anonymous said...

Ew. Other than trans fat, HFCS is the only thing that I absolutely won't eat.

"Post-Google" by TAR ART RAT said...

eeeeew... there is similar stuff like this at PR WATCH

Google