High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener commonly used in sodas and fruit drinks that has increased in usage over the years along with rises in obesity. It is produced from corn through enzymatic processing to change glucose into fructose. While its effects on health are still debated, too much of any sweetener can lead to weight gain and related health issues. There are two main types of high fructose corn syrup but no conclusive evidence that it alone has caused increased obesity rates, though overconsumption of calories from any source likely contributes to weight gain. Its safety has been certified but its impacts require more research.

1. Mikayla Nelson
HHP Section 2
Cain
12/4/13
High Fructose Corn Syrup Paper
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that is commonly used in sodas and fruity
flavored drinks. The use of this common sweetener has increased over the years and as
that has increased, so has obesity and health problems, which is causing many people
across the nation to wonder if this increase is associated with the corn syrup.
High fructose corn syrup was “first introduced by Richard O. Marshall and Earl
R. Kooi in 1957” (Wikipedia, 2013). It is produced by milling corn to produce corn
starch and then producing corn syrup. Once the corn syrup has been produced, enzymes
are added to change the glucose to fructose. However, before the big idea of the sugar
industry and added sweeteners came along, the dietary fructose was limited to only
certain things. Milk, meats, and most vegetables had no fructose and only ten percent of
fructose by weight was found in fruits. “From 1970 to 2000 there was a 25% increase in
„added sugar‟” (Wikipedia, 2013).
“Research has shown that high-fructose corn syrup is chemically similar to table
sugar” (Nelson, 2012). Although it is unknown currently whether high-fructose corn
syrup is any less healthier than other sweeteners used in this time, it is known that too
much of any form of sugar or sweetener can lead to unwanted health risks and problems
such as weight gain, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and high triglyceride, which
then can all lead to the big problem of heart disease.
There are two types of high fructose corn syrup currently. Those are: HFCS-55
corn syrup used in canned fruit, ice cream, desserts, and baked goods. (Hand, 2013). In

2. the 1970s in when America started to make high fructose corn syrup and that is when
obesity became apparent, however, there is no facts or proof that has been shown to
connect high fructose corn syrup with the rising cases of obesity. But is has been brought
to many people‟s attention that high fructose corn syrup could be a contributing factor to
obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and there
has been much encouragement to do further research on this topic to get to the bottom of
the mystery of if high fructose corn syrup really does have anything to do with these huge
health problems.
Aside from all the health problems that many people wish to associate with high
fructose corn syrup, it “has been classified generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration since 1976” (Wikipedia, 2013). Just because obesity rates have
increased as high fructose corn syrup usage rates have increased does not mean that they
are related in any way at all. The little research that has been done has shown no
correlation what so ever. There are absolutely no safety concerns with high fructose corn
syrup, it is a very safe ingredient, and if it were not then it would not have been classified
generally recognized as safe.
When it comes down to it, a sugar is a sugar. Just because the label says that the
item contains high fructose corn syrup does not mean that it is unhealthier than anything
else you might possibly be getting from you local food mart. No research has come to the
complete conclusion that there is a correlation between high fructose corn syrup and the
increasing obesity rates. Although, yes, if you do ingest too much sugar/ calories it is
very likely that you will gain weight and expose yourself to health risks, but that is not
because of just high fructose corn syrup.

3. References
"High Fructose Corn Syrup." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 May 2013. Web. 04
Dec. 2013.
Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 27 Sept. 2012.
Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
"The Truth About High Fructose Corn Syrup." SparkPeople. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec.
2013.