We have all heard of High Fructose Corn Syrup and it just sounds like a sugar additive right? So what’s the big deal? Well, let me ask you something. How would you feel if I told you that many of the products that you may be consuming and buying for your family are tainted with mercury? A very common ingredient in processed foods is High Fructose Corn Syrup. In the United States, several manufacturing plants where High Fructose Corn Syrup is made are using a mercury-grade caustic soda for the purpose of separating corn starch from the corn kernel in the process of making HFCS.
Some top name brands that you probably purchase in your local market that contain HFCS as the first or second ingredient are; Coca-Cola, Quaker, Hunt’s, Hershey’s, Kraft, General Mills, Smuckers, Yoplait and Nutri-Grain to name a few. Take a look at the list;
http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refID=105040.
Mercury is an extremely high neurotoxin. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children, and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible to pregnant women and children as well as the general population”.
Currently in the United States, we still have 4 plants that continue to utilize mercury-grade processes in their plants. These facilities are located in Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. What is concerning is that the general public has no way to know whether or not an item containing HFCS is coming from a plant that uses mercury cell processes. Until our government begins to regulate the way our manufacturing plants process high fructose corn syrup you are at risk to mercury exposure foods and beverages.
The best practice to avoid the possibility of exposure is to read the ingredients. If you see that the first or second ingredient listed is High Fructose Corn Syrup, you may want to reconsider your purchase.
Interesting Reads:
American Academy of Pediatrics: Mercury in the Environment
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/1/197
The Washington Post, January 26, 2009 – Study Finds HFCS Contains Mercury
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html
WebMD, January 27, 2009 – Mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20090127/mercury-in-high-fructose-corn-syrup
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