HFCS: A Killer On and Off the Cob
In 2011, we wrote an essay entitled A Kllier on the Cob. It’s been 14 years and the prevalence of HFCS in foods and beverages produced in the United States has not changed – and maybe even worsened.
Smuckers wrote to us to correct us for misstating facts in that article and wanted to correct us by saying there is no difference between HFCS and sugar. Which is provably wrong. But not too long after our essay was published, Smuckers introduced a line of jams and jellies called “Smucker’s Naturals” which use sugar instead of HFCS but which, of course, cost more. We had to wonder why, if there is no difference between HFCS and sugar, why did Smuckers introduce a whole new line of products called “Smucker’s Naturals”?
Unless you live in the United States, your chance of encountering High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in your food and beverages is not likely. The fact that fructose is primarily metabolized by the liver has raised concerns about its potential impact on liver health. Excessive fructose consumption can contribute to increased fat production in the liver, which may lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Also, because fructose does not promote the same insulin response as glucose, it does not promote the same level of leptin production. Leptin is a hormone that signals to the brain that the body is full. Therefore, high fructose consumption can contribute to overeating.
Why is so much HFCS used in the U.S. food and beverage industry?
The U.S. government’s intervention in the sugar market has significantly influenced the increased use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Here’s how:
Sugar Tariffs and Quotas
U.S. policies, including tariffs and quotas on imported sugar, have artificially inflated the price of sugar within the country. This made domestic sugar more expensive for food and beverage manufacturers.
Government Corn Subsidies
The U.S. government has provided subsidies to corn farmers, which has led to an abundant and relatively inexpensive supply of corn. This abundance of cheap corn created the perfect condition for the mass production of cheap HFCS.
Economic Incentive
The combination of high sugar prices and low corn prices created a strong economic incentive for food and beverage companies to switch from sugar to HFCS.
HFCS is a much cheaper alternative to sugar, especially for large-scale production.
U.S. sugar policies have artificially inflated the price of sugar and created a market environment where HFCS became a cheaper option for manufacturers which has led to its widespread adoption in processed foods and beverages.
Your health vs corporate greed
I’m not going to wax political here, but the USA leads the world in chronic diseases. And I can’t help but think that HFCS (and other food additives prevalent in the USA but not in other countries around the world) hasn’t contributed to the chronic disease epidemic in the USA.
My best friend had to have a liver transplant because of liver disease (cirrhosis of the liver). He was nearly a teetotaler. I don’t think that man had more than 20 alcoholic drinks (including beer) in his entire life. But he did drink Pepsi Cola to excess. And what sweetener is used in Pepsi? You guessed it… HFCS.
Excessive fructose consumption, including from HFCS, is strongly linked to NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). NAFLD involves the accumulation of fat in the liver, which can progress to more serious conditions. NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves liver inflammation and damage. NASH, in turn, can lead to cirrhosis, the scarring of the liver, and potentially liver failure. Fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver. High fructose intake can overload the liver’s processing capacity, increasing fat production (lipogenesis).
I’m not a doctor, not even a scientist, but I can do research and read. In the original essay “A Killer On the Cob“, I related my own experience with HFCS and how I took a stand against it and made a great effort to steer clear of it. But it’s now 14 years later and I’ve not been so careful with ingredient labels as I should be, and my health has declined somewhat although I’ve again put the brakes on the HFCS and other ingredients that other countries around the world don’t allow, but are allowed here.
Chronic disease in the USA is much higher than in other developed countries
Reports from organizations like The Commonwealth Fund and the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker indicate that the U.S. has a notably high rate of chronic disease compared to other high-income nations. This includes conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory illnesses.
Studies that compare the U.S. to other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries consistently show a higher prevalence of chronic diseases in the U.S.
Chronic diseases are a global issue, however, the United States has the highest rate of chronic diseases and faces a particularly significant challenge in this area. Like everything else – it’s all about the money, not your health.
HFCS is one of the main contributing factors to the epidemic of chronic diseases in the USA. It really is a killer on and off the cob.