House bill HR 2065 may help remove mercury found in high fructose corn syrup

May 16, 12:30 PMSeattle Nutrition ExaminerHeidi Nebel

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High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has recently been shown to contain mercury, a heavy metal that is extremely toxic, especially to the brain. In January, a report was released by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy  as well, a simultaneous peer reviewed research article was published in Environmental Health.  The findings showed that of 55 foods listing HFCS as the first or second ingredient 1/3 of them were contaminated with mercury in levels that could easily be toxic to humans.

How does this happen? HFCS is a highly processed sweetener that goes through many steps on its way from corn to HFCS. One of these steps often involves the use of caustic soda to break down the corn kernels. This caustic soda is created using mercury cells, hence the contamination. There are mercury free options that can be used to make HFCS but unfortunately they are not being utilized universally.

Mercury cell technology has been banned in Japan and the EU is phasing it out by 2020. Now there is hope that the U.S. will follow suit in as little as two years. Earlier this week the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act of 2009 was introduced to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act. Seattle University School of Law professor Catherine O’Neill spoke at the subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection about the extensive damage mercury does to human and environmental health.

Let’s hope this bill is passed, but in the meantime mercury contamination is just another good reason to avoid HFCS. Instead, choose natural sweeteners such as raw honey, agave syrup or grade B maple syrup. Your body will thank you!

More Info:

Want to read one of the research papers? 

1) Mercury from chlor-alkali plants: measured concentrations in food product sugar
2) Not so sweet: missing mercury and high fructose corn syrup

Want to see a full copy of the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act of 2009?

  Click here --   HR 2065

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