HFCS

          Much of an Americans diet consists of corn, wheat, soybean, and rice. These profitable crops that dominate the food industry are most definitely not equals when it comes to profit. The “king of all crops” is corn, due to it being so profitable to farm(Parker). Because corn has been genetically modified, certain pesticides have no effect on it, which makes it a reliable crop for animals as well as humans. The developers of high fructose corn syrup,  Marshall, and Kooi, found a way to use corn to make HFCS(Parker). Their invention, after much modification, turned out to be a massive success for the food industry, farmers, and big companies.

The production of HFCS has varied over the years, but still, it remains one of the most popular food ingredients in processed foods. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, HFCS production has fluctuated over the years:

Domestic production of HFCS increased from 2.2 million short tons in 1980 to a peak of 9.5 million tons in 1999, as HFCS replaced more expensively priced sugar in a variety of uses. Since 2000, production of HFCS has declined by about 12 percent, with 2017 production totaling 8.3 million tons. In 1997, corn used to produce HFCS broke through the 500-million bushel level and reached as high as 552 million bushels in 1999. (“Background”)

Because the production of HFCS was much cheaper, more corn was needed due to its popularity. Also, because of the way HFCS is made, it became the more affordable and easier option compared to cane sugar. To make high fructose corn syrup, the corn has to be converted into cornstarch, and the cornstarch must be converted into syrup. The syrup starts off as mostly glucose and then after it is soaked, most of it turns into fructose. Different types of HFCS were made for different foods and beverages. The amount of concentrated sugar in the syrup decides where the liquid will be used. “There are three types of high fructose corn syrup named for their fructose content: HFCS-42 (42% fructose), HFCS-55 (55% fructose) and HFCS-90 (90% fructose). HFCS-42 was the first to be created and is still used today in processed foods and some beverages”(Reshanov). HFCS with 90% fructose is the most harmful and is commonly used in soft drinks. The process of creating this artificial sweetener is quite complex.

            For the corn to be turned into HFCS, the hard kernel needs to be soaked and softened, and then it needs to be separated into corn starch, corn hull, oil and protein. Then the starch and protein are mixed at high speeds to separate the heaver starch from the light protein (Hossain 13). After they dilute the starch and dry out the gluten, it can be used to feed animals, or it can be packaged for later use. But the majority of the corn is turned into corn syrup. First, the starch must go through a process called acid hydrolysis, where it is diluted and then heated. The acid and heat combination breaks down starch, turning it into a form of sugar. It then goes on to be filtered and refined to get rid of any color or unwanted flavor. Although the process seems long, there is much more to be done. Before the corn is turned into syrup, it has to be dried in so that it can be turned into crystalline corn syrup, where “The corn syrup is passed through a drum or spray dryer to remove 97% of the water. This process produces a crystalline corn syrup powder.” After it is dried, the syrup must go through a process called enzyme conversion, to make it sweeter. To create 42% HFCS, “the detox sugars in the syrup must be converted into sweeter fructose sugar by the action of an enzyme in a series of steps under carefully controlled temperatures, pressures, and acidity. This process produces a high fructose corn syrup with a 42% fructose content which is used in canned fruits and condiments”(“Corn syrup”). But HFCS 42 does not work with all foods and drinks. A higher percentage of fructose is needed to make the product sweeter. HFCS with 55% fructose is sweeter, and it is used in soft drinks like soda and juice(Parker). The much sweeter HFCS consists of 90% fructose, it’s made by evaporating all of the moisture out of syrup and encapsulating the grains to prevent reabsorption. Then after some more processing,  pure fructose crystals are left. Once the process is finished, the HFCS with 90% fructose is used when a much sweeter and more concentrated HFCS is needed. This kind of sweetener is used in dry foods such as cake mixes (“Corn Syrup”). Although these artificial sugars are extremely processed, they are not all that different from sugars that occur naturally. When looking at the chemical composition of the two sugars, they are very similar.

Many people believe that because HFCS has a similar chemical composition and the  

same amount of calories as table sugar, that it is not any worse for you. What people do not know is that the body breaks down HFCS differently than table sugar. HFCS has a high percentage of fructose, and the body does not know how to break it down properly. According to Princeton University, one of their research teams has demonstrated the difference between the two types of sugars. They discovered that “all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain: Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same”( H. Parker). This study proves that HFCS is more harmful than table sugar and that it promotes weight gain which in turn could lead to obesity. Now let us take a look at fructose and the consumption of fructose throughout the years:

Fructose also called fruit sugar, was once a minor part of our diet. In the early

            1900s, the average American took in about 15 grams of fructose a day (about half      

             an ounce), most of it from eating fruits and vegetables. Today we average four or

             five times that amount, almost all of it from the refined sugars used to make

             breakfast cereals, pastries, sodas, fruit drinks, and other sweet foods and

             beverages.(Harvard Health Publishing)

Consuming the amount of fructose that Americans are consuming is not healthy for the body, and it can contribute to many health issues.

The definition of fructose is a “crystalline monosaccharides found in sweet fruits and in  

honey” (“Fructose”). When fructose is consumed in fruit it is much better for you than consuming fructose in HFCS, because the fruit contains beneficial fibers and vitamins that HFCS does not have, and the digestion process of fructose, when eaten in HFCS, is different than fructose in fruit. When fructose is consumed in high amounts, it can cause some negative health effects in our bodies. Fructose can only be processed by the liver, and when people consume too much HFCS, which contains high amounts of fructose, it can cause fat deposits to build up on liver cells:

Glucose and fructose, the two sugar molecules, are locked arm in arm until broken apart by the intestine. In high fructose corn syrup, fructose and glucose are not chemically bound. An enzyme called phosphofructokinase acts as a kind of thermostat to detect whether the liver needs fuel. If it doesn’t, glucose moves into the blood straight away. However, fructose seeps into the liver whether or not the energy is needed, and this effect has been linked to the promotion of fatty liver disease. (“Obesity & High Fructose Corn Syrup: A Sticky Relationship”)

The process of the liver using fructose to create fat is called lipogenesis. And when there is a continuous buildup of fat, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can occur.

           According to the American Liver Foundation, the definition of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is quite simple; “it is the buildup of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% – 10% percent of the liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver” (“Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease”). And due to NAFLD, the liver can become inflamed, and in severe cases, it can lead to cirrhosis, which can cause your liver to not function properly, and cause a buildup of scar tissue. NAFLD which is promoted by HFCS has become a common issue along with other diseases in our country. “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease now affects up to 30% of adults in the United States and other developed countries, and between 70% and 90% of those who are obese or who have diabetes”(Harvard Health Publishing). This disease that is driven by artificial sugars has affected a vast majority of people, and the consumption of HFCS needs to be limited. Overconsumption of HFCS not only promotes obesity, but also contributes to fat buildup around our organs as well. And many other health issues can stem off of (NAFLD), including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Fructose when not consumed in fruit, is very harmful, and it can cause multiple problems within peoples bodies. “A report from the Framingham Heart Study has linked nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic syndrome, a constellation of changes that is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. Other studies have linked fructose intake with high blood pressure”(Harvard Health Publishing). Fructose is definitely a contributing factor in promoting metabolic syndrome. And this is due to an increase of fat, which helps the growing problem of insulin resistance and obesity(Mortera, Renya Rodriguez, et al.).  “Metabolic syndrome is a collection of heart disease risk factors that increase your chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The condition is also known by other names including, insulin resistance syndrome, and dysmetabolic syndrome”(“What Is Metabolic Syndrome? Symptoms & Treatment.”). Evidence from recent epidemiological and biochemical studies suggest that consuming high amounts of fructose is a factor that contributes to metabolic syndrome. In order for us to understand why HFCS is so harmful, we must understand what metabolic syndrome, aka insulin resistance, is, and why it is dangerous.

Insulin’s job is to take in glucose through the cells in our body, in order to use it as energy

or store it as fat. “insulin resistance occurs in people that have High levels of insulin circulating in their blood, Excessive fat stored in the liver and pancreas, and High levels of inflammation” (“Insulin Resistance”). These health problems that are becoming a huge issue in America are promoted by insulin resistance, which occurs when your muscle cells and liver cells stop listening to the signals that the hormone insulin is supposed to send out, in order to take glucose out of the bloodstream and transfer it to our cells (Harrar). High fructose corn syrup is the lead promoter of health issues, due to its high fructose content. “A high flux of fructose to the liver, the main organ capable of metabolizing this simple carbohydrate, perturbs glucose metabolism and glucose uptake pathways, and leads to a significantly enhanced rate of de novo lipogenesis and triglyceride synthesis”(Basciano, et al.). The list of health issues and diseases that can occur from over consumption of HFCS are numerous, and people should refrain from consuming it daily or at all. Harvard Medical School “cautions against too much added sugar, which may lead to weight gain and other health problems including diabetes and heart disease”(Harvard Health Publishing). Although the dangers of HFCS seem obvious, people have claimed that HFCS is no different than other added sweeteners and that it promotes obesity no more than other sweeteners would. But psychology professor Bart Hoebel, from Princeton University, who specializes in the neuroscience of appetite, weight, and sugar addiction, reveals through his studies that this is not at all true. “When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese -- every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don’t see this; they don’t all gain extra weight”(H. Parker). Now that we know about the dangers that HFCS poses, like promoting obesity, we must make a conscious decision regarding our health and decide to make better food choices for ourselves and our families.

          Opinions vary when talking about how and who should handle the ongoing issue of  HFCS consumption. Because the government does not regulate and restrict HFCS production, it should it be up to the individual to seek the truth and educate themselves and those around them about their findings? The US National Library of Medicine has concerns about the issue of HFCS. They believed that the danger that HFCS poses should me made known to the public. “There is an urgent need for increased public awareness of the risks associated with high fructose consumption and greater efforts should be made to curb the supplementation of packaged foods with high fructose additives”(Mortera, Renya Rodriguez, et al.). I agree that educating oneself and searching out the truth to apply to one’s life, is the most effective and realistic goal that we can work together to achieve. The health concerns need to be made public, and the people that are at risk need to be warned and informed on how to refrain from consuming high amounts of HFCS.

          An important step in making sure that HFCS is not consumed, is reading ingredient labels on food products. Reading the labels of food consumed on a daily basis is very important because HFCS is hidden in most processed foods. “Manufacturers add sugar to 74% of packaged foods sold in supermarkets. So, even if you skip dessert, you may still be consuming more added sugar than is recommended”(“Hidden in Plain Sight”). The reason sugar is so hard to detect on the label is because it has many different names that we are not aware of. Some of the names are: sucrose, barley malt, dextrose, maltose rice syrup, and corn syrup. The difficulty is knowing how much of the sugar is naturally occurring and how much is added, because The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not required to inform us:

“Unlike salt and fats that are added to foods, nutrition labels don't provide you with a daily reference value for added sugar. However, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends no more than 9 teaspoons (38 grams) of added sugar per day for men, and 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for women. The AHA limits for children vary depending on their age and caloric needs, but range between 3-6 teaspoons (12 - 25 grams) per day”.(“Hidden in Plain Sight”)

Most people find it hard to resist sugar and many tend to go over their recommended sugar intake. Another easy way to stay away from added sugar is by eating whole foods, due to the fact that there are no preservatives or added ingredients like HFCS.

           As believers of Christ, we should strive to reveal the truth in order to help ourselves and those around us. I do believe that everyone is free to make their own choice regarding their health, but the issue is that the information is not readily available for people to make that important decision regarding their health. Although I think the Government should ban or limit the production HFCS, this wish will most likely never happen, due to multiple reasons regarding profit.

           Let’s talk about profit. The United States of America produces 71% of the world’s HFCS. Who stands to gain from the massive industry that the manufacturing and distribution of HFCS has created? The Corn Refiners Association, which is made up of the four largest corn manufacturers in North America, are multi-billion dollar giants, who’s revenue each year reaches into hundreds of billions of dollars. These companies are, Ingredion, Inc., Tate & Lyle, Plc., Cargill Inc., and Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM). Together, they form a conglomerate that has dominated and controlled the landscape of HFCS production for years(Hirtzer). These companies have formed a monopoly, and the Corn Refiners Association are doing all that they can to increase the sales of HFC due to the huge profit that it brings in. Michigan Sugar Company has joined a lawsuit against corn processors who are false advertising, and trying to change the name of HFCS to increase profit. From the Associated Press:

A group of sugar farmers and refiners has filed a lawsuit against several corn processors and their lobbying group for their effort to rebrand high-fructose corn syrup as "corn sugar". The Western Sugar Cooperative, Michigan Sugar Co. and C&H Sugar Company Inc. are asking the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to end the corn industry campaign that markets high-fructose corn syrup as a natural product that is equivalent to sugar. They say the campaign constitutes false advertising, and are seeking compensation for lost profits and corrective advertising. (Brush)

A website was made by the Corn Refiners Association made to make HFCS seem natural and non harmful. The truth is usually always hidden from the public, so we must question the all that we find and are told. The world today revolves around money, and companies will tell people anything in order to raise their sales. We must filter out the bad things in our life that are keeping us from fulfilling God's wishes, and givinging Him his due praise. And products containing  HFCS are definitely on the list of negative things to stay away from in the future.

     

           As humans, we feel that although HFCS is harmful, it is much too difficult to simply stop

consuming. What we need to realize, is that little steps in the right direction are better than no steps at all. As God's children, we contain the strength to not only take care of our bodies, but take care of those around us. All of the stress that people put on their body functions like the liver and heart, is not normal. Our bodies were not meant to handle high amounts of sugar. HFCS was created simply because it was easier and less expensive than cane sugar. And now the production and consumption of this cheaper, more harmful sugar has risen along with the profit. Products that contain high amounts of HFCS have left, and continue to leave people who consume high amounts of it, in a self destructive position, because they are not aware of the damage it does to their bodies. This paper is meant to make people think, and give them a sense of urgency. Our country has motives that do not line up with the word of God, and people must defend themselves and their neighbors from false truths. Because we know that liver disease, obesity, and diabetes lay at the end of a high HFCS diet, we should be awakened, and we should want to help ourselves and others. Although we cannot stop the production of HFCS by ourselves, we can make a conscious effort to look at food labels and consume less HFCS, and inform others about the harm it can do to their bodies. We have God on our side, and with him anything is possible. So as we continue to go through life, think of God and how he would want us to live, and how we can better worship Him though our health decisions .

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work cited 

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