The Double Danger of High Fructose Corn Syrup

[Jaylen Brit 0]

I agree its habit forming and addictive stuff is sugar!

But usually I manage to shop without buying MOST of the sweetened rubbish that passes for cereal for my kid (bran flakes and rice pops is what she GETS - eaten without sugar, just semi skimmed milk, and they dont contain much sugar either) I read labels relgiously - fat I dont mind that much depending on what KIND of fat (and kids need more fats than adults anyways), sugar and salt I do mind..and I dont spend more either, cos the sugary stuff gets eaten faster due to the fact that you need more of it once your sugar high goes down.

Id lvoe to say I never eat any 'bad food but that would be a lie, lol - but I DO make sure I don't eat much of it or very often, and my diet right now is mostly fish (tinned cos its keeps longer) and salads or veggies, some cheese, nuts, wholemeal bread, lots of water and a rare treat now n again (if I eat sugar then I crave it, just like any drug, hence not often)

[Elizabethnhenry 0]

Even for those of us who are conscientious, it's difficult to shop at the local grocery store without buying food that is heavily processed, full of corn syrup and sodium, not to mention the trans fats (partially hydrogenated vegetable oil). As a single parent, I easily get caught in buying the weekly specials to stretch the dollar which usually are things like sweetened cereals and snacks. It's like trying to give up crack.

I hear you! I try not to go to the regular grocery store as much as I used to. I either go to an organic food coop and the farmers' market.

And I do agree that it is cheaper to eat unhealthy foods - it really squeezes my budget to choose organic or more healthful choices.

I agree its habit forming and addictive stuff is sugar!

(if I eat sugar then I crave it, just like any drug, hence not often)

Some days I feel like this is a losing battle for me. But I am hanging in there. I dust off and start again. I am really anemic and I find that as my iron stores increase, I crave sweets less.

[CanGal 1]

And I do agree that it is cheaper to eat unhealthy foods - it really squeezes my budget to choose organic or more healthful choices.

They actually say it is cheaper to buy healthy than it is unhealthy. Yes the upfront cost seems to be more such as for example when I buy whole wheat pasta it tends to be at about 1.50 to 2.00 depending on what I get compared to 1.00 and .50 cents. But if you look at the bigger picture, like someone said above, you tend to eat more of the sugar and unhealthy stuff up alot quicker than you would healthy foods so then you end up going out and getting more, etc. Though the upfront cost of healthy food is a little more expensive, it usually tends more and should last you longer than the latter. It takes a lot less of to fill you up.

[Marilyn. 340]

these Americans seem to sweeten everything with corn syrup.... I am guessing because it is cheaper....

Yep. Because most food is sold by weight and not volume, both sodium and HFCS are two of the heaviest weighted ingredients manufacturers can add to food cheaply.

What we need are food labels that show percentages and are easily read on the packaging so that consumers can make easy comparisons. For example, brand x peanut butter has 30% sugar, compared to brand y which has 45%. Then through competition, manufacturers will use less and less corn syrup.

Has anyone else noticed that ketchup (Heinz especially) doesn't taste the same as it did 20 years ago? I've been trying to find information on the internet but I can swear that it used to taste more tangy and now it's friggin sweet....I hate it now! My hunch is they use more corn syrup and less tomatoes.

yeah, I noticed that when I moved here to the States... It tasted way different then it did in Canada... I noticed the ingredient list seemed full of artifical stuff like corn syrup etc... where as the ingredient list for Canadian Heinz is something like this..... Tomato paste (made from fresh ripe tomatoes), liquid sugar, white vinegar, salt, onion powder and spices....

Here is the ingredient list for Ketchup in the US... tomato concentrate made from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring

Hubby of course thought I was crazy .... Last time I was in Canada I brought back some "Real Heinz Ketchup" mmmmmm, it tastes way better

these Americans seem to sweeten everything with corn syrup.... I am guessing because it is cheaper....

Is that why it's also heavily used in Canada--but almost nowhere outside North America?

I notice similar products taste way different here then they did in Canada

Edited July 6, 2006 by MarilynP

[one...two...tree 2,762]

yeah, I noticed that when I moved here to the States... It tasted way different then it did in Canada... I noticed the ingredient list seemed full of artifical stuff like corn syrup etc... where as the ingredient list for Canadian Heinz is something like this..... Tomato paste (made from fresh ripe tomatoes), liquid sugar, white vinegar, salt, onion powder and spices....

Here is the ingredient list for Ketchup in the US... tomato concentrate made from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring

Hubby of course thought I was crazy .... Last time I was in Canada I brought back some "Real Heinz Ketchup" mmmmmm, it tastes way better

Will you join me in writing annoying letters to Heinz until they offer consumers a choice between the new cheap ####### and the classic ketchup? All I want is a choice. BTW, have you any Trader Joe's in your town? Great alternative to the name brands and most of their packaged products are minimally processed.

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah, I noticed that when I moved here to the States... It tasted way different then it did in Canada... I noticed the ingredient list seemed full of artifical stuff like corn syrup etc... where as the ingredient list for Canadian Heinz is something like this..... Tomato paste (made from fresh ripe tomatoes), liquid sugar, white vinegar, salt, onion powder and spices....

Here is the ingredient list for Ketchup in the US... tomato concentrate made from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring

Hubby of course thought I was crazy .... Last time I was in Canada I brought back some "Real Heinz Ketchup" mmmmmm, it tastes way better

Will you join me in writing annoying letters to Heinz until they offer consumers a choice between the new cheap ####### and the classic ketchup? All I want is a choice. BTW, have you any Trader Joe's in your town? Great alternative to the name brands and most of their packaged products are minimally processed.

I think I was reading somewhere that they changed the ketchup back in the 1980's or something... so it has been around for awhile already...

Edited July 7, 2006 by MarilynP

[one...two...tree 2,762]

yeah, I noticed that when I moved here to the States... It tasted way different then it did in Canada... I noticed the ingredient list seemed full of artifical stuff like corn syrup etc... where as the ingredient list for Canadian Heinz is something like this..... Tomato paste (made from fresh ripe tomatoes), liquid sugar, white vinegar, salt, onion powder and spices....

Here is the ingredient list for Ketchup in the US... tomato concentrate made from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring

Hubby of course thought I was crazy .... Last time I was in Canada I brought back some "Real Heinz Ketchup" mmmmmm, it tastes way better

Will you join me in writing annoying letters to Heinz until they offer consumers a choice between the new cheap ####### and the classic ketchup? All I want is a choice. BTW, have you any Trader Joe's in your town? Great alternative to the name brands and most of their packaged products are minimally processed.

I think I was reading somewhere that they changed the ketchup back in the 1980's or something... so it has been around for awhile already...

So they'll probably laugh at us for making a fuss now...sigh. I don't know if it is just in my mind but as I've gotten older, I have less of a tolerance (taste wise) for sweet things. I remember going to the local 7-11 as a teenager and getting a Big Gulp (32oz) of Coke, then they came out with the Super Big Gulp (64oz). We used to chug them down like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. My poor pancreas - I hope he can forgive me.

Edited July 7, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah, I noticed that when I moved here to the States... It tasted way different then it did in Canada... I noticed the ingredient list seemed full of artifical stuff like corn syrup etc... where as the ingredient list for Canadian Heinz is something like this..... Tomato paste (made from fresh ripe tomatoes), liquid sugar, white vinegar, salt, onion powder and spices....

Here is the ingredient list for Ketchup in the US... tomato concentrate made from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring

Hubby of course thought I was crazy .... Last time I was in Canada I brought back some "Real Heinz Ketchup" mmmmmm, it tastes way better

Will you join me in writing annoying letters to Heinz until they offer consumers a choice between the new cheap ####### and the classic ketchup? All I want is a choice. BTW, have you any Trader Joe's in your town? Great alternative to the name brands and most of their packaged products are minimally processed.

I think I was reading somewhere that they changed the ketchup back in the 1980's or something... so it has been around for awhile already...

So they'll probably laugh at us for making a fuss now...sigh. I don't know if it just in my mind but as I've gotten older, I have less of a tolerance (taste wise) for sweet things. I remember going to the local 7-11 as a teenager and getting a Big Gulp (32oz) of Coke, then they came out with the Super Big Gulp (64oz). We used to chug them down like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. My poor pancreas - I hope he can figure me.

most likely you can always order some real Heinz ketchup from Canada

http://www.canadianfavourites.com/store/saucesyrup.html

Edited July 7, 2006 by MarilynP

[Identity 0]

There are also many other factors contributing to obesity in America:

1. Lack of exercise

2. Lack of discipline/ lack of "family time" and parental guidance

3. Instant accessibilty to any type of product one desires

4. The development of suburbs and communities that discourage walking (the best exercise, in my opinion)

5. Corporate and medical industry greed

And many more. I work in a high school and we have vending machines containing sodas, candies and stuff like that. Pepsi actually has an exclusive contract with the school. HMMMMMMMMMMMM..... It's interesting about all of these products, if there was not a demand for them, they would not be selling so well. Essentially, consumers are saying they want all these products because they are voting with their $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I must say, many of these "convenience" products I have consumed myself but I realize that many are very unhealthy for me. For myself, the toughest part is discipline.

Whatever happened to chasing down the one armed man in the ice cream truck after the game of football?

I can't disagree really - tho you missed at least one other IMO

6. Lack of food education - a lot of people seem to think 'fat' is bad but sugar is not and that ALL fat is bad instead of just 'some fats'

7. Locale (related to point 4 above). It appears the attitude of some on the country's west coast with regards to dietary habits, exercise regimen etc, differs from that held around the rest of the country.

[iceyspots 0]

Wow.. kinda creepy there.

[Elizabethnhenry 0]

And I do agree that it is cheaper to eat unhealthy foods - it really squeezes my budget to choose organic or more healthful choices.

They actually say it is cheaper to buy healthy than it is unhealthy. Yes the upfront cost seems to be more such as for example when I buy whole wheat pasta it tends to be at about 1.50 to 2.00 depending on what I get compared to 1.00 and .50 cents. But if you look at the bigger picture, like someone said above, you tend to eat more of the sugar and unhealthy stuff up alot quicker than you would healthy foods so then you end up going out and getting more, etc. Though the upfront cost of healthy food is a little more expensive, it usually tends more and should last you longer than the latter. It takes a lot less of to fill you up.

Good point!

[Artegal 1]

name='wog boy' date='Jul 6 2006, 08:58 PM' post='294694' name='Jaylen Brit' post='294076' date='Jul 6 2006, 02:37 PM' name='Lewis' post='293202' date='Jul 6 2006, 03:51 PM']

There are also many other factors contributing to obesity in America:

1. Lack of exercise

2. Lack of discipline/ lack of "family time" and parental guidance

3. Instant accessibilty to any type of product one desires

4. The development of suburbs and communities that discourage walking (the best exercise, in my opinion)

5. Corporate and medical industry greed

6. Lack of food education - a lot of people seem to think 'fat' is bad but sugar is not and that ALL fat is bad instead of just 'some fats'

7. Locale (related to point 4 above). It appears the attitude of some on the country's west coast with regards to dietary habits, exercise regimen etc, differs from that held around the rest of the country.

8. All of the Above aka: The Internet. Since the explosion of the internet the explosion of americans bellies and other parts has ocurred. While sitting at the computer keyboard all day we do not get any exercise, there is not any parental guidance or discipline as the net is now a replacement for the TV as babysitter, you can order just about anything off the net and have deliveried, such as Pizza, Even in communities that are geared or designed for pedestrian traffic, few people walk because they would rather look at youtub or webcam and sell and buy stuff on ebay, advertizements on the web and popups or yahoo and google sponsored links certainly sell the industry both food and dietary, good quality advise on the net is like expecting good quality advise from a stranger on the street, I mean you have had a blow up of these organic mumbo jumbo herbal cures--people actually injecting urine in their bodies--my god, and Locale of the typical teen now-a-days in either on the cell phone, in front of the tv, behind the wheel of a car, on a playstation or other game console, or in front of the PC making plans to elope with the latest chat buddy on myspace.

Edited July 7, 2006 by Artegal

[Marc and Olga 0]

Ok so after reading this thread I decided to go and buy some HEALTHY food, nothing frozen OR containing HFCS!

So here is my list!

Corn (with husks)

Apples

Peaches (they smelled so good!)

Broccoli

carrots (organic) was $0.20 more for 1 pound.

2% milk (I cannot drink less (well 1% I can but NO SKIM!))

shredded wheat (not the frosted stuff!)

"natural" peanut butter

"natural" strawberry preserves

Whole wheat bread (from the bakery!)

I cannot think if I bought anything else at this time but I have to saw I was STUNNED when EVERY brand name of bread (even ones you would think wouldn't (the specialty sara lee breads even!)) had HFCS! Why the heck does bread need a sweetener?!?!?!

It appearently does!

all that for about $33

I also cleaned out my refrigerator and removed the evil HFCS from there, I was surprise that it was even in some cranberry drink I purchased some time ago!

hehe we shall see how long I can last without my dear friend HFCS (I love ketchup!)

I remember during my trip to Russia seeing Ketchup and thinking WOW EVEN Ketchup!

I bet theirs doesn't have HFCS!

[I'm Gone 60]

Just what we need another the sky is falling we are all going to die government study. Fine you all eat lettuce, more donuts for me. LOL

http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm

United States

2000 Life Expectancy

77.1

1998 Life Expectancy

76.1

[Artegal 1]

Speaking of sky is falling.

On the evening news today they were blaming all the forest fires on guess what????

Nope not sugary substitutes.

But something else equally tantalizing yet just as empty.

global warming.

Damn Global warming is gonna be the end of all of us. Its the cause of all. everyone open your freezers, friges, and turn the AC full blast and open the windows and doors to your house so we can put the breaks on this damn global warming.

I think I remember other dooms day prediction: Killer Bees, Walking Catfish, Acid Rain, Lead Paint, Y2K, Asteroids, Nuclear War.

But Global Warming is for real--3 seconds in relative time of the earths history recorded and we can positively state that man has affected the climate on the earth far more than any other entity.

Um, hey I have a snack pack--chocolate! yummy has real milk, and Corn Syrup if I have any luck.