Battle between Sugar and Corn Syrup Industries Heads to Court

A new legal battle between sugar processors and corn manufacturers took place recently. This fight boils down to a mix of marketing and semantics. It seems that corn manufacturers want to prove that sugar and high fructose corn syrup have a similar composition, and that “corn sugar” would be a better name for high fructose corn syrup considering the bad publicity associated with it.

Sugar vs. Corn Syrup: What’s the Difference?
Corn refiners claim that the body can not tell the difference between sugar and their product. They say that con syrup is nearly identical to sugar from a nutritional point of view. Over the past few years, several manufacturers have replaced this ingredient with sugar after some studies linked corn syrup to cancer, diabetes, and obesity.

After years of legal wrangling, the sweetest of enemies are engaged in a legal battle to determine whose claims are true. Both products contain fructose and glucose, just in slightly different proportions. Corn syrup is 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose, while sugar is 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose.

Sugar manufacturers claim that their product is more natural and has fewer side effects. In the past decade, a new sweetener called agave has gained popularity even though it’s chemically and metabolically the same as corn syrup. This new product might join the battle in the near future.

Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Really That Bad?
An overwhelming number of studies indicate that high fructose corn syrup is even more dangerous than sugar. Launched in the 1970s, this sweetener can be found in an overwhelming number of packaged and processed foods, from cookies and chips to bread and ketchup. Researchers believe that corn syrup could be responsible for the obesity epidemic in the U.S.

This sugar substitute has been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and high cholesterol. Some experts claim it’s as addictive as cocaine.

One thing is certain – since it has the same composition as sugar, you shouldn’t eat too much of it.