“But my main grief with the press release and several subsequent reports, as well as quotes from the scientists themselves, is how they confuse readers by making a villain of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), especially its fructose moiety….these articles simply play into the already common misconception that HFCS as a sweetener is somehow uniquely dangerous to health. The scare tactics may bring more hits and interest from readers, but it’s poor health reporting.”
David Despain, science writer, Evolving Health blog, May 18, 2012
“The implication in most of the articles covering this story was that High Fructose Corn Syrup was fingered in this study. They didn’t study HFCS, they studied fructose itself!”
James Cooper, Ph.D., Fairfield County Food Examiner, Examiner.com, May 17, 2012
Response to UCLA Rat Study
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 16, 2012
CONTACT: David Knowles
202-331-1634
[Note that the UCLA news release was corrected to clarify that this study was on fructose, not high fructose corn syrup.]
For attribution to the Corn Refiners Association:
“Fructose is a common sweetener found in nature and present in fruits, vegetables, fruit juices, and many caloric sweeteners. Moreover, humans normally consume fructose in combination with glucose in all these foods and beverages. There is abundant scientific evidence demonstrating that consuming fructose and glucose together is entirely safe due to the way the body metabolizes these simple sugars in combination.”
As many dietitians agree, all sugars should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle.
For attribution to John S. White, Ph.D., sweetener expert and President of White Technical Research:
“It can be calculated from study data that rats consumed 7 grams of fructose per day, which is comparable to an adult human consuming 1028 grams. A consumer would have to eat 66 apples or drink 51 cans of soda per day to reach that level. Clearly this is a highly exaggerated and distorted version of the typical human diet.”
“Studies conducted on rats often do not translate well to human physiology, anatomy or nutrition. Since one of the most important differences between humans and rats is brain anatomical structure, the applicability of rat brain research to humans must be questioned.”
For attribution to James M. Rippe M.D., cardiologist and founder of Rippe Lifestyle Institute:
“This is really a study about omega-3 fatty acids, not about sugars at all.”
“The rats were given fructose in their water and sucrose in their chow. They were not given high fructose corn syrup.”
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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.
