Wednesday, February 11, 2009

You know what they say about Corn Syrup

In January of this year the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy published a study of mercury in corn syrup. They purchased products off grocery store shelves and tested them for mercury, selecting ones where corn syrup was the first or second ingredient. Almost 1/3 of the products they tested positive. From the study, "For these youngest children, the science increasingly suggests there may be no 'safe' level of exposure to mercury." I am posting this because I want the best for my grandchildren, and the major news organizations, if they reported on this, only brushed over it.

These products tested positive.

Quaker Oatmeal to Go
Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce (Heinz)
Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars
Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe
Market Pantry Grape Jelly
Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly
Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry
Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup
Wish-Bone Western Sweet & Smooth Dressing
Coca-Cola Classic
Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt
Minute Maid Berry Punch
Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink
Nesquik Chocolate Milk
Kemps Fat Free Chocolate Milk

Most corn syrup plants have changed their processing methods, and their product will only contain mercury if there is cross-contamination. Several years ago then-Senator Barack Obama introduced legislation to convert the remainint plants. That legislation needs to be reintroduced.

When the institute reported these finding to the FDA they said that they were dealing with the salmonella problem and didn't have time to worry about this.

The study can be found at http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=105026

I can't give much advice on how to avoid corn syrup except to read ingredients. Also, most fast foods contain corn syrup. Look at small bottlers and foriegn food processors. Many of these use other sugars. Even Coca Cola bottled in Mexico has no corn syrup.

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