Chemical Sugar

            

CHEMICAL SUGAR

Currently the Corn Refiners Association is on a mission to convince America that high fructose corn syrup, known as HFCS is healthy for us if used in moderation. On their web site www.SweetSurprise.com, they post scientific evidence that biochemically, sweetener made from corn is identical to cane sugar. Their other advertisements are posted including how uniformed people are on the issue. If corn syrup is healthy for us, why are they changing the name to corn sugar, and why is it in practically every packaged food on our grocery shelves?

            The Corn Refiners Association advertisement campaign is excellently done. Take this ad, for example. http://www.sweetsurprise.com/sites/default/files/CRACornHusk_4-09.jpg. Before us is a succulent ear of yellow and white corn with the words, “And now, a little FOOD for thought” pasted in green print on top. The word food is in bold, capital letters implying that corn, and therefore, its byproducts are fresh, natural, wholesome food. Below this tantalizing picture are the words, “A little sweetness in life is good.” Everything about this ad screams, “Eat me; I’m good food.”

The Corn Refiners ad uses logos in its presentation of corn as a nutritious food and pathos by showing how fresh, wholesome and yummy the ear of corn looks. Because the corn growers support what is produced from corn, it is logical that the ad would use a close up shot of the corn against a stark white background. Your eye focuses on the corn because there is nothing else to clutter up the background. The colors are fresh and lush, contributing to the whole natural feel of the advertisement.

The ethics of this advertisement are what I have problems with. What this ad lacks is photos of the refining factory with their belching smoke stacks stinking up the countryside, as it chemically turn that lush ear of corn in to sickeningly sweet corn syrup. I used to live nearby a Cargill plant that made corn syrup. The smell was horrible and you held your breath when you drove past it.

The ad contains the wording at the bottom, “A little sweetness in life is good.” Therein lies another ethical problem; it’s not ‘a little’ corn sweetener that’s showing up in our food today; it’s a lot! Because corn and it byproducts are a government subsidized crop, and therefore cheaper, corn syrup is in everything; potato chips, pasta sauce, salad dressing, maple flavored syrup, cookies, crackers and various beverages.

Does the corn syrup industry have a responsibility to limit the number of foods their products are in? No, their goal is to find how many products can be made from corn, and to make a profit by selling those items. We know America has a weight problem, but we are also told it is America’s fault. We overeat and eat too many simple carbs. So, what about those of us who are watching what we eat?  The deck is stacked against us with HFCS; government subsidized, cheap, and in everything.  

While the advertisements from the Corn Refiners Association have many positive aspects, it is unethical in its presentation because they are not being truthful. While corn syrup may be just like sugar, its pervasive presence in too much of our food does not make it a little sweetness. We, as consumers, need to be ever vigilant in our food choices and let our food dollars speak for us. By not purchasing foods with HFCS in it, we may be able to persuade manufacturers to pull it from products that it is not necessary to be in.