Let's laugh at HFCS, shall we?

I'm sure you all remember those ridiculous ads about HFCS and how it's healthy in moderation. Today I thought I'd share some rebuttals to those well written *snort* and concise *choke, gasp, wheeze* advertisements coming to us from the Corn Refiners Association.

High fructose corn syrup ads evoke sarcasm and concern
(Reprint from my Examiner column)

You have to love the creativity of people, especially when they feel strongly about a cause. You probably all know by know how I feel about high fructose corn syrup. People start pushing the whole 'it's fine in moderation" baloney and I have to use duct tape to keep my head from exploding. It's not healthy and it's difficult, if not impossible, to moderate thanks to it being an ingredient in a large percentage of today's processed foods. I'm far from being the only one that believes this. Just take a gander at the links I've provided below and you'll see exactly what I mean. Not all of these are scientifically correct, but they sure have fun making their points. Consumers are tired of corporations treating us like we are a bunch of uneducated lemmings.


I think the following video is my favorite. I want to adopt this kid.




More silly anti-HFCS viewing fun:

High-Fructose Corn Syrup Ad 2

High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Get the facts!

High-Fructose Corn Syrup: The REAL Truth

They Don't Want You To Know About High Fructose Corn Syrup

And on the serious side, a video with one of our favortie anti-sugar guru's - Connie Bennett:

A Sour View of Corn Refiners' Sweetener Ads

More high fructose hype? You gotta see this!

Some of you may remember the little run-in I had with the "corn lady" (president of the corn refiners association Audrae Erickson). It happened over one of my early articles on examiner where I reviewed the drink Zevia. I mentioned that HFCS is horrid and she took offense. (Makes sense. It is her cash cow so I can understand getting her feathers ruffled at bit.) If I would have been wrong, then I would have apologized and went on. But I am not wrong, the stuff is horrid. And many others feel the same way and said as much in the comments.

Later in the mail I receive this packet of info from her about HFCS and how it's just as healthy as fruit juice, etc. Can we say SO WHAT? Fruit juice isn't healthy either! Nor is any of the other dietary junk that raises our insulin to unusable amounts. So no one is convincing me different.

About that same time they release these ridiculous ads that show "morons" spreading myths about HFCS and how unhealthy it is. Will the morons please raise their hands? Hmm... Looks like there are an awful lot of us. If spreading the word about the dangers of unhealthy foods and additives makes me a moron, then so be it. I'll wear the badge proudly.

Recently Dr. Mike Eades (one of our favorite lc doctors and bloggers) received the same package I did a few months back. He shares his fantastic thoughts about this here, as well as two of the commercials that are being used to promote this nasty product.

Now you can find this same video on his post, but it's just so funny I had to share it here as well. The producers of this video are using a very serious (and sensitive) subject, the Nazis, to make a point about HFCS. (And they parody the HFCS ads, which I just LOVE!!) I think they make the point very well. But you can decide for yourself:

HFCS is just like fruit juice???

Those of you who have read my blog for any amount of time know that I do not believe healthy eating and HFCS can go hand-in-hand. It's nutritional diarrhea - plain and simple. Nor to I advocate eating simple sugars in any form, including fruit juice. So you can imagine my surprise when I read the latest comment concerning my Zevia review on my examiner column. It was from the President of the Corn Refiners Association, Audrae Erickson. She contends that HFCS is proven not to cause obesity and compares it to fruit juice. As if that's going to convince me it's ok.

I knew you all might have a lot to say on the subject, so I thought I'd share the opportunity for you to voice you feelings about HFCS. If you have any studies or thoughts you'd like to share with Ms. Erickson, please do join! The more the merrier! (I'm working on my reply, but it's going slowly due to a fatal illness in the family. I'm having to divide my time between the computer and the phone.)

Check it out here and let the CRA hear your thoughts!