A spoonful of HFCS

I usually have something to say about how dangerous corn is for the corn allergic, but I was reading the FoodRoutes website this morning and saw a very interesting article from the New Scientist about how High Fructose Corn Syrup is bad, bad, bad for everyone. Of course any bad news about corn is good news for the corn allergic. After all, less of it in our food means more safe food for us. I dream of things like catsup and salad dressings without corn syrup. Here's the news:

Soda Warning? High-fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Diabetes, New Study Suggests
ScienceDaily (Aug. 23, 2007) — Researchers have found new evidence that soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may contribute to the development of diabetes, particularly in children. In a laboratory study of commonly consumed carbonated beverages, the scientists found that drinks containing the syrup had high levels of reactive compounds that have been shown by others to have the potential to trigger cell and tissue damage that could cause the disease, which is at epidemic levels.

HFCS is a sweetener found in many foods and beverages, including non-diet soda pop, baked goods, and condiments. It is has become the sweetener of choice for many food manufacturers because it is considered more economical, sweeter and more easy to blend into beverages than table sugar. Some researchers have suggested that high-fructose corn syrup may contribute to an increased risk of diabetes as well as obesity, a claim which the food industry disputes. Until now, little laboratory evidence has been available on the topic.

Read the full article at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070823094819.html

Not quite what the "High-Fructose Corn Syrup, it's made from corn, it's safe and yummy" commercials were trying to sell. I don't know when these commercials first appeared, but it seems to be quite close to when this article came out at the end of August. Coincidence? You decide.