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Only Prissy Moms Avoid HFCS
As our own Miriam Wolf reported back in June, the Corn Refiners Association is trying to reverse high-fructose corn syrup’s bad rep. Now this national trade association is running a couple of suspicious TV ads:
If you’re at work and can’t listen to the dialogue, here’s the rundown: As a Cool Mom pours some fruit punch packed with HFCS at a backyard party, a Prissy Mom asks the snide question, “Wow, you don’t care what the kids eat, huh?” But when the Cool Mom pushes the Prissy Mom to explain what’s so bad about HFCS, Prissy is at a loss for words. Cool Mama sets Prissy straight: “It’s made from corn, doesn’t have artificial ingredients, and like sugar is fine in moderation.”
But is this really true? The Center for Science in the Public Interest calls the Corn Refiners’ ad campaign deceptive, and ScienceDaily reports on a study that says HFCS “may contribute to the development of diabetes, particularly in children.” The Accidental Hedonist takes issue with the idea that HFCS is fine in moderation because “HFCS is in damn near everything, including products that don’t need sweetener, such as yogurt, bread, and cough syrups.” It sure ain’t easy to consume in moderation when you’re knocking back a jug of store-bought punch!
And whether or not HFCS is actually as evil as some studies show, I’m a bit miffed that the mother who questions what her children consume is represented as a passive-aggressive bitch. I’m just sayin’!
Posted by | Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 2:10pm | 11 comments
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There's a second ad, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVsgXP...
It's repulsive.
"HFCS is in damn near everything"
This is EXACTLY my point. Producers of prepared food are using their 'business ethics' to justify putting HFCS into every conceivable product, taking advantage of our genetic susceptibility to prefer a *LITTLE* sweetness. Countless good food products get the 'sweet' treatment and we lose more of our food culture.
Direct links to evil:
http://www.hfcsfacts.com/
http://www.sweetsurprise.com/
http://corn.org/
It is doubly bad because the producers are subsidized by import tariffs and (IIRC) direct subsidy payments.
I am honestly more upset by the audacity of the commercial pretending that someone is being overly uptight and prissy because of their concerns - they just stutter and come up with nothing. It's an insult to anyone with a concern - treats them as though they have no brain.
Well my one teacher (education major) said that people who went into advertising could use their empathy for evil purposes. Sorry if evil is too strong a word but we are talking about high fructose corn syrup here. I'm feeling very angry about seeing this. America is not a classless society, it is our dirty little secret. The advertisers are using reverse-snobism here. An anti-education sentiment does exist in some areas. Well do the creators of this ad know this and play on it. They are also tapping into working mothers' guilt. There is a huge backlash against moms who take their jobs (as mothers) very seriously and try to do the very best they can. Umm how do these people sleep at night?
More than one side to most issues. You can avoid most HFCS by avoiding sweetened foods. There are better choices. Fruit, fresh or dried, is better for you if you crave something sweet.
I doubt that cane sugar is any more healthful than HFCS. You should moderate your intake of all carbohydrates.
The commercial portraying the health-conscious mom as prissy may not be all that far off. The world is full of those who are willing to tell everybody else how to live their lives. This includes the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Crew of nutri-Nazis.
Bottom line, we should learn to make informed choices and not be influenced by scare tactics or emotional manipulation.
I have to laugh at akitist.
Do your research and check out the current debate on the food media page.
Someone just pointed out that hfcs is ingredient THREE in hillshire SAUSAGE, and I'd like to ad, I was hard pressed to not find it in some lunch meat I was asked to bring to a bridal shower recently (I don't eat lunch meat myself, I finally threw in the towel and just purchased a tray!)
It's in everything.
Yes, we are all ultimately responsible for what we put in our mouths, and I hate a nanny state, but the commercials are insulting.
Hey, laugh on. I tend not to take things personally.
Just sayin' we need to not be over-influenced by industry honks or alarmists.
Hi, my name is Liz and I work for the Corn Refiner’s Association. I wanted to share some information about High Fructose Corn Syrup.
High fructose corn syrup, like table sugar and honey, is composed of fructose and glucose, which are found in many naturally-occurring fruits, vegetables and nuts. And high fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as sugar and honey – 4 per gram.
For the most part, you’ll find high fructose corn syrup in the same kinds of products in which you would find sugar or other sweeteners. At the same time, corn sweeteners offer some unique functional benefits that help companies offer more choices in food products. High fructose corn syrup keeps foods fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast and energy bars moist, maintains consistent flavors in beverages, and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments.
There’s a lot of solid research and information at www.SweetSurprise.com and www.HFCSFacts.com. Thank you for your consideration.
First off: I don't work for any food product company. My interest in this issue was piqued because of my discovery that Succrose(and Lactase) actually feeds the Staph Bacteria that cause tooth decay and generally cause a problem for our body's immune system anywhere they multiply. Now, I use Honey as my primary sweetener. I find it provides a nice compliment to coffee and tea. Its also good as a dipping sauce for meat, either alone or combined with savory ingredients like tomato catsup or mustard. I want to say the change has improved my health and given me a stronger feeling of well-being, but I only have my own observations to go on ;)
One book I have about food says that Fructose is a simple sugar and does not require enzymes to be digested. This is the exact opposite of statements I have heard from the anti-HFCS crowd. Also, Fructose is found to NOT cause the spike in insulin that Succrose causes, when digested. It is absorbed right into the cells like glucose. (Rinzler, p. 355)
I guess that is why the natural food stores all carry granulated Fructose derived from Grapes.
In fact, natural honey is partially Fructose and Glucose with some Dextrose as well. This is the result of the breakdown of the succrose molecules(a double sugar) in the honey comb.(Rinzler, p. 176)
I don't recall the dentist's website where I saw the link between Staph and Succrose. I do have the reference for the information about Fructose being easily absorbed, etc.
Rinzler, Carol Ann, "The Complete Book of Food" 1987 World Almanac Books.New York. Pharos Books ISBN: 0-88687-320-7
I would also like to say that I am disturbed by the places sweeteners are showing up. Campbell's Condensed Soup, Tomato Flavor has HFCS listed as the second ingredient. I remember (back in my day, hehe) when the soup would come out of the can as a gelatinous solid. Now, it pours like thick syrup! I realize commercial organizations are in business to make a profit, but there was a time when a processor would consider what he/she would put on her own table when setting quality standards.
I have cut HFCS out of my diet as much as possible. Not only have I had to add two holes to my belt in about three or four weeks, but I have also done it because I actually have a history of gout. Yeah, weird, but it still exists. HFCS is very bad for that, but cutting it out has, along with a lot of other bad things, has helped me out, and I haven't had to take medicines yet to fix it.
It may be okay in small doses, like most anything else, but I am happier without it.