High-fructose corn syrup: good, bad, or very bad?

January 3, 6:01 PMOrganic Food ExaminerNatalie Rotunda

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The persuasive TV ads touting high fructose corn syrup as 'safe' have stopped; at least, for now. Some of us weren't taken in for a minute, and were even offended as the corn industry attempted to end the 'bad rap' one of its derivatives, HFCS, has gotten. But the debate continues...and probably always will. In an article last month on WebMD, "High-fructose corn syrup's bad rap unfair?" the message seems to be that it's really not so bad, after all.

I irrevocably banned the stuff in my life because of my daughter's reaction to foods containing HFCS. As soon as I discovered that the HFCS-laced foods she ate were the culprit, I stopped feeding them to her...and, immediately, her symptoms stopped. She'd had no reaction to any other type of sugar; just HFCS. For others like me who have made such a connection, it's all the proof we need to quit those foods and drinks that attack the delicate workings of our bodies, and the bodies of those we love.

For others who don't have my daughter's finely-tuned allergic reaction, the connection may not be as simple and clear. Comments posted on HCFSfacts.com, for example, might help soothe away concerns for those who are uncertain of the role HCFS plays in their health. Here are a couple of the comments that rile my sensibilities: "Research confirms that high fructose corn syrup is safe [emphasis added] and nutritionally the same as table sugar." Another: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted high fructose corn syrup "Generally Recognized as Safe" [emphasis added] status for use in food, and reaffirmed that ruling in 1996 after thorough review."

Lovers of purely organic foods stay far, far away from highly-processed foods like high fructose corn syrup. We believe that foods in their most natural, farm-grown state pack a lot of what we need to get and stay healthy. We also love the foods’ simple solution to weight loss. Working with our bodies to produce healthy outcomes is our goal.

As that debate on whether or not HFCS adds to our nation’s obesity epidemic rages on, I'm happily one of the growing, vocal group of folks who strongly believes there is no debate. High-fructose corn syrup is bad, junk food that contributes zip, nothing, zero, to long-lasting good health.

Elsie, one of my favorite aunts, had this opinion about corn:  "Corn isn't good for the human body." She was onto something, especially when it comes to corn that is processed to the max.

Read more about my unlove affair with high-fructose corn syrup here and here.