Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury

HealthDay News ^ | 26 Jan 2009 | HealthDay News

[BGHater]

Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury, which was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient, according to two new U.S. studies.

HFCS has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods such as breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply," said the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Dr. David Wallinga, a co-author of both studies.

In the first study, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. The study was published in current issue of Environmental Health.

In the second study, the agriculture group found that nearly one in three of 55 brand-name foods contained mercury. The chemical was most common in HFCS-containing dairy products, dressings and condiments.

The use of mercury-contaminated caustic soda in the production of HFCS is common. The contamination occurs when mercury cells are used to produce caustic soda.

[domenad]

You mean I was getting that for FREE? Alriiiiight!

[arderkrag]

Why don't they go back to, you know, using sugar?

[TexGuy]

... occurs when mercury cells are used ...

While I'm not a Biologist, for the life of me I didn't know Mercury came in cells. ... (in Arthur Carlson's voice)

[Obadiah]

Read the label. Try to find any food prduct without HFCS. It is impossible. HFCS is bad, yet it continues to be used in nearly every single thing you buy at the grocery store.

[mysterio]

Hysteria. Don't fall for it.

30 to 300 parts per trillion. The standard for drinking water is 2,000 parts per trillion.

I dislike HFCS. That being said, it's more dangerous to drink water. This article is hyperbolic BS.

[an amused spectator]

teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.

Gads - no wonder Obama's storm troopers in the schools (aka "teachers") are able to manipulate the wealkened minds of their prey so easily...

[an amused spectator]

BAN DiHydrogen Monoxide!!

[massgopguy]

Wait a second. I thought Mercury was good now. Isn’t that why we have to destroy the incandecent light bulb?

[dangus]

How MUCH Mercury is contained in HFCS? Is this the revelation of a new problem, or the result of really, really, really cool technology able to discover prepostrously small concentrations?

[Bob]

In the first study, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS.

I'd bet that, if they could make the tests more sensitive, they'd be able to detect it in all of them. Detectable is a meaningless term based solely on the sophistication of the testing methods used. It does work well as a scare tactic, though.

[raybbr]

30 to 300 parts per trillion. The standard for drinking water is 2,000 parts per trillion.

Yes, but mercury is not flushed from the system. Eating it every day will accumulate.

[dangus]

>> On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.... The chemical was most common in HFCS-containing dairy products, dressings and condiments. <<

I’m not thinking teens take in abnormally large amounts of dairy products, dressings and condiments.

[dangus]

>> Yes, but mercury is not flushed from the system. Eating it every day will accumulate. <<

Yes, but the standard for drinking water is created with that in mind.

[albie]

“Read the label. Try to find any food prduct without HFCS. It is impossible”.

...not so. I’m as conservative as they come, but I go to “Whole Foods” and other Marxist hang outs to get HFCS free foods. You pay more, but it tastes better and IS better for you. There are very few commercial products that ARE good for you.

[free me]

You have to look hard, but there are plenty of foods that use cane sugar instead.

I don’t drink much soda (pop?) but when I do,I buy Boylans or Jones which are both made with cane sugar.

[an amused spectator]

I thought Mercury was good now.

We'll have to wait for The Dear Leader (Das Lieber Fuhrer) to tell us what to think about Mercury.

It may be Good, or it may be like Rush Limbaugh (Bad).

Say, is it almost time for The Two-Minute Hate, and for us to pray for the destruction of Limbaughstein? ;-)

[little jeremiah]

Did you see this?

[mysterio]

raybbr said : Yes, but mercury is not flushed from the system. Eating it every day will accumulate.

mysterio said : 30 to 300 parts per trillion. The standard for drinking water is 2,000 parts per trillion.

There's more mercury in drinking water than there is mercury in HFCS.

In the worst case scenario, you'd still have to drink 6.7 cups of pure HFCS to equal the mercury in one cup of tap water.

I think you might want to consider giving up drinking water.

[evets]

I get my daily dose of mercury the old fashioned way.