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 Now Ear This: Corn Syrup's Okay As Printed in the Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch July 3, 2003 Editor, Times-Dispatch: It is encouraging that Betty Booker highlights increased physical activity as an important step to combat obesity ["Supersized: Nation's Obesity Epidemic Taking Heavy Toll"]. Unfortunately, Ms. Booker veers off course when her article points to high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as a major cause of America's obesity problem. In making her argument, Ms. Booker asserts that an increase in the consumption of HFCS over sugar has contributed to the obesity epidemic. While HFCS consumption has increased during the past 20 years, an analysis of annual HFCS production would reveal it is composed of approximately equal parts fructose and glucose - essentially the same composition of table sugar or sucrose. Government agencies, scientists, and food professionals agree that whether from sucrose or HFCS, the source of dietary glucose and fructose is metabolically indistinguishable to the human body. It also is important to note that obesity rates are high and rising in Europe, where because of sugar subsidies and trade tariffs, HFCS consumption is virtually non-existent. Bottom line: There is no scientific study that suggests HFCS is consumed differently from sugar, or that links the consumption of HFCS to the rise in obesity or significant weight gain in America. The truth is that America's obesity epidemic has been caused by an increase in daily caloric consumption concurrent with a major lack of physical activity. The key word is balance. The best way for Americans to combat obesity is to increase physical activity while enjoying balanced diets and moderate consumption of all foods and beverages. Audrae Erickson President Corn Refiners Association, Inc. Washington, D.C. |