Why is High Fructose Corn Syrup in Everything?
Why is High Fructose Corn Syrup in Everything?
During the past few years, people have started paying much more attention to the ingredients and their food. If you drink sweet beverages, such as juice, sports drinks, or sodas, you have probably seen high fructose corn syrup as a common ingredient. There has been a lot of discussion surrounding high fructose corn syrup recently, and it is important for you to understand what it is, how it might impact your help, and why it is used so often.
So, what is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and why is high fructose corn syrup in everything? Take a look at a few important points below, and make educated decisions about your foods, your beverages, and your diet.
An Overview of High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a liquid sweetener that comes from corn. Manufacturers take cornstarch and break it down into its individual molecules. When this happens, it turns into corn syrup, which is 100 percent glucose. Glucose is a simple sugar, and it is found in a variety of fruits and beverages.
With 100 percent glucose, manufacturers will take enzymes, add them to the mixture, and convert glucose into fructose. This is where HFCS comes from. It was first introduced into the food and beverage market in the 1970s, and it has the same number of calories as other sugars. In the years after it was introduced, it became the dominant sweetener in the food and beverage industry.
Why Is It Used So Often?
Numerous companies use high fructose corn syrup regularly because:
- Less Expensive: HFCS is popular in this industry because it is far less expensive than the alternatives that food and beverage manufacturers might use.
- Better Flavor Enhancement: High fructose corn syrup tastes sweeter when compared to similar sugars. Therefore, it does a better job of enhancing the flavor of the food and beverages it is added to.
- Longer Shelf-Life: High fructose corn syrup also has a longer shelf life when compared to the alternatives. Food and beverage companies don’t have to worry about high-fructose corn syrup expiring as quickly.
- More Consistent: High fructose corn syrup tastes the same regardless of what you add it to. Even if it is added to acidic foods and beverages, it will still do its job well.
For all of these reasons, HFCS remains popular in the food and beverage industry to this day.
- Our Popular Sugars -
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup offers enhanced stability and functionality in food and beverage products.
Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is most often used in food and beverage products to add volume, soften texture, prevent sugar crystallization, and enhance flavor.
Fructose
Produced commercially from corn and is available in crystal and powdered forms.
Where Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Found?
High fructose corn syrup can be found in a variety of locations, including fruit juice, sodas, sports drinks, and even grains. Some of the most common locations where HFCS might be used include:
- Confectionery products, such as candy
- Canned foods, including canned fruit slices
- Soft drinks and sodas
- Dairy products that have unsweetened, including certain types of yogurt
- Pastries, bread, and other baked goods
- Breakfast cereals
- A variety of fast food items
HFCS is included on the ingredient list of a wide variety of foods and beverages that people come into contact with every day.
Potential Health Concerns Related To the Use of High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup, glucose, and sucrose are all fairly similar sugars. Because HFCS has become so common in the food and beverage industry, a significant amount of research has been completed during the past few decades. Some of the possible health complications of consuming high amounts of high fructose corn syrup include:
Obesity
Consuming excessive amounts of sugar can lead to rapid weight gain. High fructose corn syrup is very high in calories. When people consume more calories than they need, they add weight. This can contribute to the development of obesity, which can lead to numerous other health complications. People who develop obesity are prone to developing musculoskeletal complications, mental health issues, and cardiovascular concerns.
If people who consume HFCS develop obesity, they are prone to developing a wide variety of heart problems. People who struggle with their weight suffer from elevated blood pressure, an increased risk of developing heart attacks and strokes, and chronic heart problems, including heart failure.
Liver Issues
Consuming too much high fructose corn syrup can also lead to serious liver problems. For example, HFCS could increase someone’s risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This can lead to scarring of the liver and liver damage.
Consuming too much high fructose corn syrup can also lead to elevated triglyceride levels, which can contribute to numerous cardiovascular complications. This includes atherosclerosis, which leads to the thickening of blood vessel walls.
Diabetes
Consuming too much high fructose corn syrup can also increase someone’s risk of developing diabetes. Specifically, HFCS can increase someone’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the body has to produce excessive amounts of insulin to respond to all the sugar that is being consumed.
If someone develops type 2 diabetes, the body no longer responds to insulin the way it should. This can lead to consistently elevated blood sugar levels, which can contribute to numerous complications. Examples include diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), and diabetic retinopathy (eye damage).
Make Sure You Know About All of Your Options
Clearly, there are a lot of risks that come with consuming high fructose corn syrup. Therefore, it is important for you to know about all of your options. We are Indiana Sugars, and we have more than nine decades of experience feeding a wide variety of major food industry customers. It would be our pleasure to work with you as well. There are concerns surrounding HFCS, so you need to know about all of your options. We have plenty of choices, and we know that the right option for one person is not necessarily the right choice for everyone. Give us a call today to speak to a member of our team. It would be our pleasure to help you find the right sugar for your products.
