The Fuss over High Fructose Sweeteners

Food manufacturers are being taken to task once again over the effect corn syrup and other kinds of refined foods is having on the worldwide obesity epidemic and the steep rise in type II diabetes.

Scientists have noted the spike in obesity rates that occurred at about the time consumption of a popular soft drink sweetener, high fructose corn syrup, leapt by about 1000 percent. The fact that the two trends occurred virtually simultaneously is no accident, they contend.

The food industry, though, is not taking these allegations lying down.

"Diabetes rates are rising in many countries around the world that use little or no high fructose corn syrup in foods and beverages. This supports findings by the Centre for Disease Control and the American Diabetes Association which states the primary causes of diabetes are obesity, advancing age and heredity,” commented Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association in a statement.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at April 26, 2004 10:18 AM | TrackBack