The makers of HFCS want to make it all better. Are they going to stop selling the stuff? No... but they found a way to make this whole icky controversy go away....
The makers of high fructose corn syrup want to sweeten its image with a new name: corn sugar.
The Corn Refiners Association applied Tuesday to the federal government for permission to use the name on food labels. The group hopes a new name will ease confusion about the sweetener, which is used in soft drinks, bread, cereal and other products.
Americans’ consumption of corn syrup has fallen to a 20-year low on consumer concerns that it is more harmful or more likely to cause obesity than ordinary sugar, perceptions for which there is little scientific evidence.
However, some scientists have linked consumption of full-calorie soda – the vast majority of which is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup – to obesity.
[...]There’s a new online marketing campaign at and on television. Two new commercials try to alleviate shopper confusion, showing people who say they now understand that “whether it’s corn sugar or cane sugar, your body can’t tell the difference. Sugar is sugar.”
Right. And too much of anything will turn you into a fatbody. We get that. Too bad there's just more and more evidence disagreeing with the 'Sugar is Sugar' argument. It appears that cancer just loves the stuff!
The good news is that you know they're losing when they have to change the name. Aspartame pulled this stunt not too long ago. Also, the fact that Pepsi and Coke are sensing the pressure. They're running campaigns all the time - reminding you they sell bottled water and other sugary drinks other than colas with HFCS... and Pepsi has had Throwback Dew and Pepsi on the shelves a lot longer than that 'limited' amount of time, which means it's selling. I've bought a couple cases of the stuff. My Costco sells 'Mexican' Coke. I bought a case of that too. I vote with my dollars. Maybe if enough people do the same, Corn Sugar will be a distant memory like DDT?
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In other news:
The FDA also annouced that saturated fat will be renamed "flavor enhancers." Manufacturers will also be able to label cholesterol as "good stuff" and "bad stuff."
The Coal Producers of America asked the government today to change the name of carbon dioxide to "eco-friendly plant gas."
Automotive manufacturers today announced that smog will now be known as "sunset enhancement formula."
US Department of Energy announces that radioactive waste will now be known as "self heating blocks."
The NRA has started a petition to relabel gunshot wounds as "human assisted projectile" wounds.
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