If you see high fructose corn syrup on a food label, would you buy that item or

1. 70

   brakel2posted 12 years ago

   If you see high fructose corn syrup on a food label, would you buy that item or not? Explain.

   replyreport
2. 71

   Alastar Packerposted 12 years ago

   Absolutely not, except for the occasional candy bar..

   replyreport
3. 85

   JayeWisdomposted 12 years ago

   No way!  High fructose corn syrup is not a true food (although the industry that produces it wants you to think it's cane sugar), but is made by a chemical process.  It has absolutely no nutritional value, and it will kill you in one of these ways if you consume it:  high triglicerides/high overall cholesterol; fatty liver disease; heart disease; diabetes; cancer; inflammation; dementia; obesity....Anyone who eats processed food with HFCS even occasionally has a death wish. I won't touch the stuff with a ten-foot pole!

   replyreport
4. 80

   Attikosposted 12 years ago

   I'm not a teetotaler with it. In today's world it's next to impossible to avoid it altogether anyway. All of us are going to ingest some on occasion. I usually pass up products showing it on the label, though, and I always read labels.

   replyreport
5. 67

   chefsrefposted 12 years ago

   Yes, but only because it is almost impossible to avoid
   
   First of all we should be aiming for is a reduction in total sugar consumption. Your body is not better off just because you switch to table sugar. Recent research indicates that sugar is linked to heart disease, cancer and is addictive. There is no free lunch by switching types of sugar.
   
   Second, HFCS is ubiquitous, it is almost impossible to avoid unless you avoid all processed foods. That should be the goal for a healthy diet! No processed food. Personally I bake my own bread and grow my own veggies.
   
   Third, most of the corn products in the US are made with genetically modified corn (thanks to Monsanto) This GM corn has been bred to absorb the weed killer Round Up without killing the corn. Eat GM corn and you are eating Round Up (Glyphosate)
   Now, Monsanto is trying to get approval for genetically modified corn that will be immune to 2,4-D, (half of the herbicide Agent Orange, used to defoliate jungles in Vietnam.) If the FDA approves this we will be eating Round Up and Agent Orange when we eat corn based products.

   replyreport
6. 80

   Georgie Loweryposted 12 years ago

   Well, I see it this way: It will kill me if I eat a ton of it. As a matter of fact, ANYTHING will kill me if I eat a ton of it. So, as long as high fructose corn syrup isn't the first ingredient (unless I'm specifically buying high fructose corn syrup), then I really don't care if it's in something I eat or drink. If we all consume everything in moderation, we really shouldn't have too much to worry about.

   replyreport
   1. 69

      pocono foothillsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There are effects in your body caused by high-fructose corn syrup that should make you want to NEVER consume it.

      replyreport
7. 0

   Garifaliaposted 12 years ago

   If it's something I lust, once in a blue moon. Yes.
   
   Georgie Lowery is absulutely correct.

   replyreport
8. 70

   Mazzy Boleroposted 12 years ago

   They say it stops the hormone leptin from working. This tells your brain you are full.  The result is you just keep stuffing yourself.  Some are blaming this for the epidemic of obesity and they could be right. 
   
   High-fructose corn syrup was manufactured to deal with the overproduction of corn in the US. It was cheaper than regular sugar. However, now there has been a disastrous corn harvest this should no longer be the case, so maybe it will be a blessing in disguise.  Well-disguised, admittedly.
   
   Would I buy it? No. There are plenty of sweet things that won't kill you.

   replyreport
9. 0

   danielabramposted 12 years ago

   I have so much hfcs in my other foods, so I wouldn't buy that item. Also, if it has hfcs, chances are it is not organic.

   replyreport
10. 61

    KK Trainorposted 12 years ago

    I don't even read the ingredients on what I buy, so I imagine I'm eating a lot of it. Somehow I'm still ticking along just fine.

    replyreport
11. 0

    EmpressFelicityposted 12 years ago

    I used to think that here in Britain we didn't have high fructose corn syrup, but then I discovered that we did, only it goes by a different name - glucose-fructose syrup.
    
    Having read about the links between HFCS and obesity, I now avoid it, even to the point of paying extra for items that don't contain it.
    
    I am wondering if the excess amount of corn grown by farmers is down to government (or EU) subsidies - wouldn't surprise me in the least.

    replyreport
    1. 80

       Attikosposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       It's not due to a surplus of corn. The artificial demand created by alcohol gasoline additive regulation sopped up that. HFCS has inherent cost of processing advantages sufficient to make it attractive as an ingredient for manufactured food.

       replyreport
12. 77

    DzyMsLizzyposted 12 years ago

    Since I've learned about it, I do try to avoid it.  That said, as others have pointed out, it's nearly impossible to avoid.  With careful label-reading, however, it can be done. 
    
    As far as 'it will kill you,'  ... maybe so yes, maybe so no.  SOMEthing is going to kill you--that's the down side of life:  you don't get out of it alive.  So the cause of one's eventual demise is rather a moot point, in my opinion.
    
    I believe in the "all things in moderation" philosophy.  Take reasonable precautions, but don't live your life as a victim--do the things and eat the things you enjoy, and enjoy your life!

    replyreport