Researchers find high-fructose corn syrup may be tied to worldwide collapse of bee colonies

Phys.org ^

[chessplayer]

(Phys.org) —A team of entomologists from the University of Illinois has found a possible link between the practice of feeding commercial honeybees high-fructose corn syrup and the collapse of honeybee colonies around the world. The team outlines their research and findings in a paper they've had published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers aren't suggesting that high-fructose corn syrup is itself toxic to bees, instead, they say their findings indicate that by eating the replacement food instead of honey, the bees are not being exposed to other chemicals that help the bees fight off toxins, such as those found in pesticides.

Specifically, they found that when bees are exposed to the enzyme p-coumaric, their immune system appears stronger—it turns on detoxification genes. P-coumaric is found in pollen walls, not nectar, and makes its way into honey inadvertently via sticking to the legs of bees as they visit flowers. Similarly, the team discovered other compounds found in poplar sap that appear to do much the same thing. It all together adds up to a diet that helps bees fight off toxins, the researchers report. Taking away the honey to sell it, and feeding the bees high-fructose corn syrup instead, they claim, compromises their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to the toxins that are meant to kill other bugs.

[EricT.]

Thalidomide was safe, too, right?

[Labyrinthos]

This the first explanation that I’ve read that actually makes sense (as opposed to climate change, global warming, Bush, the Joos, the Tea Party, Ted Cruz, etc.).

[Ditter]

I have a corn allergy, always have had it. That includes anything made out of corn. I avoid HFCS. Maltodextrin and dextros cause me even more severe reactions. All that stuff is difficult to avoid but avoid it I do!

[Ditter]

All honey will crystallize in time. All you do is put the jar in hot water and it will turn to honey again. Never heard of honey turning sour.

[Toddsterpatriot]

I couldn't tell you. DDT killed me in the 60s. Agent Orange killed me in the 70s. Alar killed me in the 80s. Electromagnetic radiation from power lines killed me in the 90s. Movie popcorn killed me in 2000. Aspartame killed me in 2005.

[ClearCase_guy]

“I don’t want to go on the cart”

[autumnraine]

Thanks for that tip. Not sure about the souring either. Maybe it was a false advertising.

[Ditter]

I remember reading (maybe here) that some honey was found in a tomb in Egypt and it was reconstitute and was eatable. Don't think I would have eaten it tho’ LOL! I would toss out any that smelled sour too.

[EricT.]

I do not wish to continue arguing with someone who is doing little more than calling me a “chicken” for having reasonable reservations about blundering about with the genetic makeup of my food.

Back to the playground with you, twerp.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Learn some science, avoid lefty sources. Now run away!

[Bigg Red]

My problem has just appeared in my “golden years”. I have been trying to avoid all of those sweeteners. As you say, it is difficult. They are in too dang many foods.

Real corn, e.g., corn on the cob does not seem to be a problem for me.

[PeterPrinciple]

crystalizing is normal with honey. Processed honey has the pollen removed to stop the crystalizing which makes a longer shelf life for uninformed consumers. Once the pollen is removed, you cannot source the honey to country of origination.

to rehydrate the honey http://www.ehow.com/how_5816369_fix-crystallized-honey-quickly.html

The sour I cannot address but the above might correct that.

Our perceptions of food are manipulated many times for many reasons. The GMO is a very political, emotional issue. Get the truth, don’t believe headlines.