Landmark NBC News Nutrition Report:
“There Is Indeed Little Difference Between
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Table Sugar” Harvard Obesity Researcher: High fructose corn syrup “misunderstood”
CONTACT: Audrae Erickson, President
(202) 331-1634
Washington, DC – Last night, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams ran a report, “The sweet truth about high fructose corn syrup,” by Chief Science Correspondent Robert Bazell. In the report, Mr. Bazell noted, “Top nutrition scientists say there is indeed little difference between the two products.”
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30355093#30355093)
In commenting on the NBC story, Audrae Erickson, president, Corn Refiners Association concluded, “This NBC Nightly News story sheds the light of day on an important health and nutrition matter for American consumers. There is no nutritional difference between high fructose corn syrup and sugar. A sugar is a sugar. It is the calories that count.”
David S. Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, stated in the NBC report, “High fructose corn syrup is one of the most misunderstood products in the food supply.”
“NBC got the facts right. Americans save millions of dollars every year because corn-based sweeteners are more economical to produce, while providing superior functionality in foods. In this economy, every little bit helps,” reaffirmed Erickson.
Additionally, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) concluded that “No persuasive evidence supports the claim that high fructose corn syrup is a unique contributor to obesity.” (Hot Topics, “High Fructose Corn Syrup.” December 2008.)
CRA is the national trade association representing the corn refining (wet milling) industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, ethanol, starch, bioproducts, corn oil, and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein, and fiber.
