‘Corn sugar’? OK, but not too much

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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It's that sweet time of year. Holiday baked goodies. Candy canes. Hot chocolate and punch.

Sugary treats are a big part of our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. But, according to many nutrition and health experts, too many Americans indulge in sweets all year long - a diet choice blamed in part for the epidemic levels of obesity and chronic disease seen in recent years.

Meanwhile, the sweetener industries are fighting about a name. The Corn Refiners Association wants the right to call high-fructose corn syrup “corn sugar” because, it claims in its petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, consumers have an inaccurate, negative image of their product. Cane and beet sugar officials, who have filed a lawsuit against the Corn Refiners, say it's just a ploy to mislead consumers and could pose increased health risks.

We think the argument against “corn sugar” is unconvincing.

After hearing the Corn Refiners pitch last week, we reviewed sources ranging from Mayo Clinic to the world's foremost authority (Luc Tappy) on the biological effects of sweeteners on humans. It's clear there is no significant difference in how our bodies react to high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or cane and beet sugar (sucrose). Both sweeteners combine glucose and fructose.

In the 1970s, soft drink companies began switching from sucrose to HFCS, mostly because the corn product was cheaper. But as use of HFCS has grown, it's also been blamed for the our nation's huge surge in obesity and diabetes.

Only part of that is likely right. The American Medical Association has stated: “Because the composition of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose are so similar, it appears unlikely that HFCS contributes more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose.”

The problem, then, may be the amount of sugar Americans consume. At 40 pounds per person per year - the equivalent of a little more than one can of a sugary soft drink a day - the health effects appear negligible. But by the early 2000s, American consumption had soared to 90 pounds per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And so had the obesity and diabetes rates.

Other than the health issue, there's economics. In Iowa, our farmers, the corn-products industry and the job market all benefit from HFCS production. It provides steady demand for some of the 2 billion-plus bushels of corn Iowa produces annually and adds nearly $1.9 billion of value to that crop.

Our quick take: HFCS is sugar made from corn. And it's just as unhealthy as other sugars if you eat too much of it.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy some sweet treats during the holidays. It's part of a fun tradition. But on most days, it's certainly smart to limit your consumption of sugar of any kind to a healthier level.

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