They must be launching some type of campaign because they just had an ad on TV trying to deny all the things that have come out about it.

This is absolutely ridiculous. HFCS is in EVERYTHING! I started making a list of strange places I found HFCS, here are a few of my favorites:

- Raisin Bran
- A Jar of Pickles
- Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
- Pickled Beets
- Fat Free Salad Dressing

They should change that copyright to read:

"Copyright © 2008 The Society for a More Obese America"

I can't claim to be an expert on the subject but here are some statements on their web sites about HFCS from some so-called "experts":

"There's no substantial evidence to support the idea that high-fructose corn syrup is somehow responsible for obesity." "If there was no high-fructose corn syrup, I don't think we would see a change in anything important. I think there's this overreaction." (Dr. Walter Willett, Chairman of the Nutrition Department, Harvard School of Public Health; as quoted in The New York Times article, "Does This Goo Make You Groan?" [print]/"A Sweetener with a Bad Rap" [online]; by Melanie Warner; 07/02/06)

"It's basically no different from table sugar. Table sugar is glucose and fructose stuck together. Corn sweeteners are glucose and fructose separated. The body really can't tell them apart ..." (Dr. Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University, author of "What to Eat" and "Food Politics"; comparing HFCS to table sugar at the TIME/ABC News Summit on Obesity; 06/03/04)

"The authors of this paper misunderstand chemistry, draw erroneous conclusions and have done a disservice to the public in generating this controversy." (Dr. Michael Jacobsen, Executive Director, Center for Science in Public Interest; on Bray/Popkin "commentary" wrongly linking HFCS to obesity; as quoted in the Associated Press article, "Study partly blames widely used sweetener for rise in obesity"; by Steve Hartsoe; 03/25/04)

"HFCS is the chemical and nutritional equivalent of table sugar (sucrose). The two substances have the same calories, the same chemical composition and are metabolized identically." "The increase in the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. coincides with the increased use of HFCS and it is tempting for some of the experts to pose the obvious question: Does HFCS cause obesity? We know, of course, that the simultaneous occurrence of two events does not necessarily mean that one caused the other and, in the case of HFCS, it is fair to say that there is no causal relationship between the two. The prevalence of obesity and diabetes is increasing even more rapidly in parts of the world where HFCS is not used in any significant amounts." (Dr. Arthur Frank, M.D., Medical Director, George Washington University Weight Management Program; in the commentary "Carbs and calories, confusion and chaos", published in The Washington Times; 12/06/06)

"It was a theory meant to spur science, but it's quite possible that it may be found out not to be true." "I don't think there should be a perception that high-fructose corn syrup has caused obesity until we know more." (Dr. Barry M. Popkin, Professor, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; as quoted in The New York Times article, "Does This Goo Make You Groan?" [print]/"A Sweetener with a Bad Rap" [online]; by Melanie Warner; 07/02/06)

"I don't think it is likely that things would be very different if people consumed increased amounts of either sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup." "Overconsumption of either sweetener, along with dietary fat and decreased physical activity, could contribute to weight gain." (Dr. Peter J. Havel, Associate Researcher, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis; as quoted in The New York Times article, "Does This Goo Make You Groan?" [print]/"A Sweetener with a Bad Rap" [online]; by Melanie Warner; 07/02/06)

Those so-called experts actually have some decent credentials. But the dates of their statements are all circa 2004 to 2006. Wonder if any of them have changed their tune based on more recent research.

I can personally attest that cutting HFCS out of my diet alone was responsible for significant weight loss and better health. Yeah I saw the add on TV too which angered me as well, BS i say BS!!!

HFCS is in anything that tastes good or is unnecessarily affordable. All I know is that I've never seen so many adolescent boys with man boobs in my entire life. And I must say that the biggest shock was the pickles ... wtf. As for this massive PR campaign they're launching, the corn refiners association may as well be saying "there's no proof that eating a pile of sh*t leaves a crappy taste in your mouth." It all stinks of Karl Rove.

I saw that the other night & almost threw up. Best quote from that spot: "It's safe in moderation." Great, then quit putting it in my ketchup you rat-ba*tards.

Dole Pineapple orange banana juice has none, and it tastes good!

And it's not just the jam either. There are many 100% Whole Wheat breads out there with HFCS as well. I was shocked to discover that it was in my usual brand, as well as a lot of other brands...

Don't beets have a lot of natural sugar in them anyway? I'm going to have to look through my fridge and cabinets... I do my best to pick up the "natural" and "organic" stuff when I can, just not the "organic" fruits and veggies since I really can't justify the 200% price difference for the exact same thing.

This would be true if you believe the body does not process HFCS any differently than sugar.

Yes - well said!

There is the correlation between obesity and HFCS, exercise, amount we eat and drink etc.

Cane sugar is cut, processed, mixed with water then evaporated until the sugar granules are formed. A natural process.

HFCS is made from corn starch using a series of unit processes that include steeping corn to soften the hard kernel; physical separation of the kernel into its separate components—starch, corn hull, protein and oil; breakdown of the starch to glucose; use of enzymes to invert glucose to fructose; removal of impurities; and blending of glucose and fructose to make HFCS-42 and HFCS-55.

Now how is that a natural process. Corn in the natural environment will never be exposed to those enzymes to convert to fructose. Now Sugar from cane is already there, just needs to be evaporated or reduced.

How is HFCS organic ?

As for it causing obesity....... It is an ingredient in the whole overall picture that is combined together to cause obesity.

Take a Pepsi can. 150 Calories. 30mg Sodium (Makes you want to drink more), 41g Carbs all sugar. Contains carbonated water (When would we drink carbonated water in the real world), HFCS (Nuff said), Caramel Color(We want our water to look black), Sugar (Well at least it is natural), Phosphoric Acid (Once again, when would we drink Phosphoric acid in the real world), Caffeine 38mg (Admit I still use it in my Gu's), Citric Acid (Again Acid), natural flavors (Ok, let us know what is natural). The hardest part is what is their ratio's of mixture. This is the key thing we will never know. But judging from the high Carb content it is mainly HFCS.

We as the principals of our own body have the information, the mechanisms, the products and the ability to guide our own ultimate health levels including obesity, so blaming HFCS as the sole source of obesity is misleading, even though it plays a part.

It is up to US to make sure we are educated and to educate others that the right way to keep healthy is to run your body as it was designed. You can put bad gas in a car, and it will run poorly or maybe stop runnning, but put the good stuff in (Clean, not high octane), and your car will run properly with maybe an occasional breakdown, but they are manufacturing or structural problems, not related to the gas you use.

My 2c worth.

I think it's natural because humans are part of nature.

"Is there a correlation between the introduction of HFCS & the rise of obesity in the last 30 years?"

The round about response to this question is fantastic. They don't directly say "no" because the way the question is worded would open them up to lawsuits if they were to do so, rather they blame obesity on television, video games, and, essentially, meats.

The simple fact is, and they admit this by not refuting the claim directly, the introduction of HFCS does correlate with a rise in obesity. It is an additive in products now that were never sugar containing before its inception and don't need any sweetening. It's a causal relationship, where people buy sweet products because that is what they have been conditioned to like and expect, and they expect foods to taste a certain way because they contain HFCS.

The average obese kid is not looking at labels for HFCS, but the parents should be, and they should get that kid away from the fridge, video games and TV and get him some water and go outside and play with the kid.

I make sure that there are lots of healthy snacks and drinks around the house. My daughters drink lots of water, and skim milk, and don't even like soda. They eat lots of fruits and veggies.
When we go shopping, I show them how to look at labels.

They play on soccer teams and I have coached them.

When they are with me we are outside playing, biking, swimming, hiking in the woods.

They are skinny and have little muscles developing.

It takes effort for me and them but now it is a habit and a lifestyle. ;-)

Exactly, do something about it.

I understand that as well. For awhile it was only 1 income for me as well.
I didn't neccessarily buy 'organic' but I got lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and not so many prepared foods. I tried to make a lot of meals from scratch and not from a box. I bake or grill chicken, steam veggies, or serve them fresh. I like Barilla Plus for pasta.
If you make it yourself you can usually make a better meal.