In 2009, almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury, which was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient, according to two new U.S. studies.
HFCS has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods such as breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average in 2009, Americans consumed about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers consumed nearly 80 percent more HFCS than the average. Today, Americans ingest about 150 pounds of HFCS per person per year. The average teenager has 34 teaspoons a day. A 20-ounce soda contains 15 teaspoons of sugar, all of it high fructose corn syrup. It may not be a problem if we drink or eat HFCS occasionally, but over time, these heavy metals can accumulate in the body, causing health problems.
“Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply,” said the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Dr. David Wallinga, a co-author of both studies.
In the first study, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. The study was published in current issue of Environmental Health.
In the second study, the agriculture group found that nearly one in three of 55 brand-name foods contained mercury. The chemical was most common in HFCS-containing dairy products, dressings and condiments.
The use of mercury-contaminated caustic soda in the production of HFCS is common. The contamination occurs when mercury cells are used to produce caustic soda….
Read the entire article on “HFCS Contains Mercury ” at Washingtonpost.com and “Why You Should Never Eat HFCS” at Huffingtonpost.com