Another reason not to like high-fructose corn syrup

A study shows you may be getting small doses of mercury in those foods that contain high-fructose corn syrup. The source appears to be the caustic soda and HCl acid manufacturers use to convert corn kernels into syrup. Some companies make the soda and acid by mixing the solution in electrified vats containing mercury. Yum.

[David M. Bueker]

What study?

I don't need another reason not to like HFCS. I already dislike it immensely!

What study?

One by the FDA, another by IATP: http://www.iatp.org/iatp/press.cfm

It's interesting that the scary press release didn't mention what levels they detected. Is there a link to the actual research paper? If they found significant contamination compared with known hazardous levels, that's one thing. If they found something near the detection limit of an ICP or AA spectrometer, that's another.

edit: Never mind, I found it.

http://www.iatp.org/iatp/publications.c ... fID=105040

It's the latter.

To put these numbers in perspective, "In the United States the FDA has an action level for methylmercury in commercial marine and freshwater fish that is 1.0 parts per million (ppm), and in Canada the limit for the total of mercury content is 0.5 ppm." The chart I linked indicates levels about 10,000-100,000 times lower than this. That's probably why the FDA didn't publish any studies about this (contrary to Larry's assertion).

I suspect that the motivations of IATP (which is mostly a lobbying organization) might not be terribly pure. Scare people, raise money, it's an old game.

[David M. Bueker]

I'm no fan of HFCS, but the data says it all.

Remember that anything in total excess is a bad thing, even vegetables (I once had a school teacher who liked carrots so much that she started to turn orange - literally).

To put these numbers in perspective, "In the United States the FDA has an action level for methylmercury in commercial marine and freshwater fish that is 1.0 parts per million (ppm), and in Canada the limit for the total of mercury content is 0.5 ppm." The chart I linked indicates levels about 10,000-100,000 times lower than this...

However, it wouldn't surprise me if the average per capita consumption of HFCS is about 10,000-100,000 times higher than that of commercial fish.

From the NY Times:

"The typical American ate 13 pounds of seafood last year, including 6.5 ounces of sardines, 8 ounces of canned salmon and 3.1 pounds of tuna."

I suspect even the sweetest of sweet toothers aren't consuming 130,000 pounds of HFCS per year.

To put these numbers in perspective, "In the United States the FDA has an action level for methylmercury in commercial marine and freshwater fish that is 1.0 parts per million (ppm), and in Canada the limit for the total of mercury content is 0.5 ppm." The chart I linked indicates levels about 10,000-100,000 times lower than this. That's probably why the FDA didn't publish any studies about this (contrary to Larry's assertion).

I suspect that the motivations of IATP (which is mostly a lobbying organization) might not be terribly pure. Scare people, raise money, it's an old game.

I guess you're right: The FDA was aware of the study, but didn't do the study themselves.

From the NY Times:

"The typical American ate 13 pounds of seafood last year, including 6.5 ounces of sardines, 8 ounces of canned salmon and 3.1 pounds of tuna."

I suspect even the sweetest of sweet toothers aren't consuming 130,000 pounds of HFCS per year.

OK - You win. Annual per capita consumption of HFCS (2004) was about 60 lbs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Usda_sweeteners.png

I am turning against corn in general. There's corn DNA in my hair, for crying out loud! I recommend the movie 'King Corn' to you - what an eye opener.

I'm no fan of HFCS, but the data says it all.

Remember that anything in total excess is a bad thing, even vegetables (I once had a school teacher who liked carrots so much that she started to turn orange - literally).

When my now 8 year old granddaughter was an infant, she would eat her carrots better than anything else. Therefore my daughter fed her all she would eat. She did in fact get an orange tinge to her skin. The tint went away when her intake of carrots was restricted to a more normal level. She still loves raw carrots to this day, as does her younger sister.

I am turning against corn in general.

So am I. I've completely sworn off watching re-runs of Hee Haw.

I'm with Stuart on this one. This is just scare-mongering. There are enough legitimate reasons to avoid high-fructose corn syrup (such as, it tastes terrible) that there is no reason to make up fake ones.

-Paul W.

I am turning against corn in general.

So am I. I've completely sworn off watching re-runs of Hee Haw.

I'm with Stuart on this one. This is just scare-mongering. There are enough legitimate reasons to avoid high-fructose corn syrup (such as, it tastes terrible) that there is no reason to make up fake ones.

-Paul W.

Could just use it as an insurance policy, you know? In case you're not getting your RDA of methylmercury in your tuna, shark and mackerel.