Mercury Found in High Fructose Corn Syrup
Mercury was found in nearly fifty percent of tested samples of commercial high fructose corn syrup according to an article published in the scientific journal, Environmental Health.
A separate study detected mercury in nearly one third of fifty-five popular brand name foods and beverages where HFCS is the first or second highest labeled ingredient.
According to David Wallinga, M.D., from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy,
“Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered.”
It seems we have one more reason to avoid HFCS, and make sure our children are not consuming this so called natural ingredient.
High fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods, the obvious being soft drinks, candies, and other sweets. Also, beware of it in things you wouldn’t expect such as breads, cereals, yogurts, ketchup, and even some granola bars.
Now, more than ever, it’s important for our kids to eat as much “real food” as possible. Make sure to read labels, and look for short ingredient lists containing things you can identify.
And beware of HFCS.
Image credit: bbaltimore on flickr creative commons.
We avoid HFCS like the PLAGUE. The mercury doesn’t surpise me and perhaps that is the main culprit for my daughter reacting to HFCS. Scary stuff… definitely something that doesn’t need to be in our bodies!
How come they couldn’t discover this before? I mean, HFCS has been used in so many things for so long…
Thanks for covering this! I work on Oceana’s Campaign to Stop Seafood Contamination, which has been working since 2005 to get the chlor-alkali industry, which produces the chemicals purported to contaminate HFCS, to go mercury-free. Since then, 5 of the 9 plants that were using outdated technology at that time have announced plans to voluntarily stop using mercury. To email the companies that own the remaining four plants and ask them to switch to modern technology, go to http://takeaction.oceana.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11215
In the last couple of sessions of Congress, we have worked with then-Senator Obama to introduce legislation that would ban mercury in chlor-alkali production by 2012. We will be working to make sure the legislation passes this year!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I knew HFCS was fattening but I had no idea it also contained a neurotoxin. Yikes!
[...] cup BBQ sauce Use your favorite bottled sauce (look for one without high fructose corn syrup, worcestershire sauce, or anchovies), or if you have a homemade recipe you enjoy, use that [...]
We are constantly surprised by what contains HFCS and are ever diligent to avoid it. One of the best places we have found to grocery shop is our local Mexican market and the local Mideastern markets, most of their sweetened products contain real sugar.
We have also found that items made with real sugar are more satisfying and don’t leave us craving/thirsting for more. So one Coca Cola with real sugar is satisfying and sweet and a treat/dessert over one Coca Cola with HFCS leaves you thirsty and wanting more.
I was not shocked at all to learn about the mercury finding.
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