Saying No to High Fructose Corn Syrup

Local natural foods store Ellwood Thompson’s is trying to make it a bit easier for folks to be healthy in the new year: they’ve banned all products with high fructose corn syrup. HFCS, a sweeter form of corn syrup, is found in soft drinks and cookies as well as ketchup and yogurt. Why the ban? HFCS is a refined, processed sugar, which doesn’t meet Ellwood Thompson’s standards for foods that are minimally processed and have no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and sweeteners. This form of sugar has also been credited with contributing to the nation’s rising obesity rate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans consumed three times as much HFCS in 2004 than in 1980. But it seems that Americans have been better informed about HFCS in recent years. In fact, according to a survey of food writers by Hunter Public Relations, HFCS was the No. 8 topic among the top 10 food-related news stories in 2006. Perhaps this wave of information has given pause to several manufacturers, including Jones Soda, which this month switched from HFCS to cane sugar, a more “natural” ingredient.

Sarah K. McDonald
Associate editor