Significance

• High fructose corn syrup is consumed around the world. Its production, as of 2009, is almost a $3 billion a year industry. About 17.5 billion pounds of high fructose corn syrup are produced yearly.
  
  

Function

• High fructose corn syrup is almost exclusively produced and manufactured as a food additive. Its main function is to act as a sweetener. It is used as an alternative to sugars such as cane sugar or beet sugar.
  
  

The Facts

• High fructose corn syrup is made from cornstarch. The sugar or glucose in corn starch gets turned into fructose, which is another type of sugar. High fructose corn syrup extends the shelf life of many processed foods. Also, it is cheaper than cane sugar, which is a major reason for its widespread use. High fructose corn syrup is said to have the same level of sweetness as cane sugar.
  
  

History

• The potential for high fructose corn syrup was not realized until the 1970s. Less than 3 million tons of high fructose corn syrup were produced in 1980. Production nearly tripled by 1995. The companies Coca-Cola and Pepsi began using high fructose corn syrup exclusively to sweeten their products in the United States by 1984.
  
  

Considerations

• High fructose corn syrup should be consumed in moderation because it is suspected of contributing to obesity around the world. It should be noted that high fructose corn syrup is not the ultimate cause of obesity and it is not necessarily less healthful than other sweeteners. However, over-consumption of any kind of sugar can lead to health problems. Care should be taken because foods and beverages that use high fructose corn syrup also tend to be high in calories and provide little nutritional value.