Stop the Corn Refiners Association from Worsening America’s Obesity Crisis
Health, Petitions — By Karen Frazier on September 19, 2011 8:38 amTarget: United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Goal: Stop the Rebranding of High-Fructose Corn Syrup to “Corn Sugar.”
The Corn Refiners Association recently petitioned the FDA for approval to rebrand high-fructose corn syrup (HCFS) as “corn sugar.” This will only serve to obfuscate the health issues arising from nearly universal inclusion of HCFS in the processed foods many Americans eat daily.
While the Corn Refiners Association contends HCFS has the same physiological effects as sugar, a 2010 Princeton study published in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior tested two groups of rats fed calorically equal solutions of either HCFS or table sugar. The HCFS group gained significantly more weight. Researchers hypothesized the chemical structure of HCFS made the body metabolize it differently.
Rates of obesity in America have risen drastically in a single generation. Just 25 years ago, every state had an obesity prevalence of less than 14%. Today, the prevalence in every state is greater than 20%, and several exceed 30%. Concurrently, the occurrence of type 2 diabetes has risen by 90% since 1997, including among children.
America faces a health crisis, and research suggests the ubiquity of HCFS is one of the causes. Allowing manufacturers of this artificial sweetener to change its name from HCFS to “corn sugar” will further complicate the issue, leading many consumers to assume it’s a natural, harmless substance.
The Corn Refiners Association has a powerful, well-funded political lobby. They seek the name change to erase the recent effects of negative publicity and education campaigns about HCFS. This will help members of the Corn Refiners Association make more money, but it could have a devastating effect on American health.
While more study remains necessary to determine the effects of HCFS, changing its name will only serve to confuse consumers. Do not allow the Corn Refiners Association to abdicate their responsibility in this widespread health crisis with a simple name change.
PETITION LETTER
Dear United States Food and Drug Administration:
Allowing the Corn Refiners Association’s recent petition to change the name of high-fructose corn syrup (HCFS) to “corn sugar” could come at significant cost to the health of American consumers. While further study may be warranted in order to determine the actual health effects of HFCS on the human body, the rapid rise in American obesity and type 2 diabetes, along with data achieved from independently conducted studies generates significant cause for concern.
If the FDA allows the Corn Refiners Association to rename and rebrand HCFS to “corn sugar,” it will serve to confuse consumers and allow manufacturers to escape the ongoing effects of publicity and education campaigns aimed at generating better understanding about the potential health hazards of this artificial sweetener.
Please do not allow the Corn Refiners Association to rebrand HFCS. Doing to could result in serious harm to American consumers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Will Go Here]
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