Would you like some Mercury with that?

[peewee's lovechild]

There's mercury in high fructose corn syrup, and the FDA has known for years

Maybe Jeremy Piven didn't get mercury poisoning from fish at all -- according to the results of a new study released by the Ins ute for Agriculture and Trace Policy (IATP), the actor may well have been sickened by soda or candy or anything that contains high fructose corn syrup, which, if you eat processed food in this country means, well, just about anything.

Foodies and nutritionists alike have been griping about high fructose corn syrup for years, and the industry has responded with an "astroturf" campaign and a level of secrecy generally reserved for military officials or secret societies (see Corn Refiners' Association president Audrae Erickson's stonewalling performance in King Corn).

Of course, I wouldn't want to show my hand either, if the making of my product could be described as the undertaking of a "small Manhattan Project" (see eye-glazing production info here). But as it turns out, the HFCS industry has been hiding some major skeletons in its closet -- according to the IATP study (pdf), over 30% of products containing the substance tested positive for mercury.

What makes this news truly shocking is not just that the manufacturers of high fructose corn syrup would put consumers' health at risk, but that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew about the mercury in the syrup, and has been sitting on this information since 2005.

Here's the connection, according to the IATP press release (pdf):

The IATP study comes on the heels of another study, conducted in 2005 but only recently published by the scientific journal, Environmental Health, which revealed that nearly 50 percent of commercial HFCS samples tested positive for the heavy metal. Renee Dufault, who was working for the FDA at the time, was among the 2005 study's authors. In spite of Dufault's involvement in the study, the FDA sat silent on this one for three years, and in fact last August, allowed manufacturers to call the sweetener "natural."

Here's how the mercury gets in there, according to Janet at the Ethicurean:

How did the heavy metal get in there? In making HFCS -- that "natural" sweetener, as the Corn Refiners Associaton likes to call it -- caustic soda is one ingredient used to separate corn starch from the corn kernel. Apparently most caustic soda for years has been produced in industrial chlorine (chlor-alkali) plants, where it can be contaminated with mercury that it passes on to the HFCS, and then to consumers.

And more from the press release:

"While the FDA had evidence that commercial HFCS was contaminated with mercury four years ago, the agency did not inform consumers, help change industry practice or conduct additional testing."

And on why this matters:

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms," said IATP's David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. "Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply."

In China, heads might roll over a scandal like this one, at least if the country received global attention for its allowing corrupt health officials' greasy palms come before, um, public health.

Of course, in this country, Dufault's neck is safe. But what about the health of American consumers? Let's see the Corn Refiners' Association try to spin this one.

Originally posted on The Green Fork.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie..._b_161334.html

[Frenzy]

that's not enough we need more mercury....more

[balli]

[CENTER]
In China, heads might roll over a scandal like this one, at least if the country received global attention for its allowing corrupt health officials' greasy palms come before, um, public health.

Of course, in this country, Dufault's neck is safe. But what about the health of American consumers? Let's see the Corn Refiners' Association try to spin this one.

I really wish this was a big enough story that I didn't read about it on ST. This is just horrible news.

[ChumpDumper]

In China, heads might roll over a scandal like this one

Probably not.

[mrsmaalox]

Of course, in this country, Dufault's neck is safe. But what about the health of American consumers? Let's see the Corn Refiners' Association try to spin this one.

They won't have to spin anything as long as they have the FDA behind them staying quiet.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Probably not.

Chump's right. The heads would lorr.

Hopefully this will put an end to those re ed, preachy high fructose corn syrup commercials brought to us by the corn growers of America.

[IronMexican]

Chump's right. The heads would lorr.

Hopefully this will put an end to those re ed, preachy high fructose corn syrup commercials brought to us by the corn growers of America.

Very underrated funny poster

[ORION]

Mercury helps me run faster

[peewee's lovechild]

The heads would lorr.

Exile is the man!!!

[desflood]

Yep. Time to plant that garden now.

[I. Hustle]

What? That it's made from corn and just like sugar is fine in moderation?

[Trainwreck2100]

heads would lorr?

[Obstructed_View]

Since a shaker of MSG sits on the tables of millions of restaurants and dinner tables all over China, I highly doubt they give a about a little bit of mercury. Leave it to the US to get all freaked out about something like this while we consume prescription medications and artificial sweeteners by the ton. Maybe someone can fake a study suggesting that HFCS makes thins eagle egg s s.

[mFFL03]

good luck trying to avoid high fructose corn syrup....it's pretty much in everything.

[peewee's lovechild]

good luck trying to avoid high fructose corn syrup....it's pretty much in everything.

Go organic.

It's the only way.

[peewee's lovechild]

heads would lorr?

You reary not understand exires rast post?

[FreeMason]

Alex Jones was right.

[mrsmaalox]

Going organic is a lovely idea for those who can afford it! That's one of the traps of HFCS.
Government subsidizes farmers big for corn and soy, not so much for fruits, vegetables. Not the farmer's fault, corn sells cheap, fruits and veggies more expensive. It's cheap to make HFCS, so it is readily used to make inexpensive, less healthful food products that more people can afford. So not only is HFCS helping to make our country fat, they are poisoning us as well!

[peewee's lovechild]

Going organic is a lovely idea for those who can afford it! That's one of the traps of HFCS.
Government subsidizes farmers big for corn and soy, not so much for fruits, vegetables. Not the farmer's fault, corn sells cheap, fruits and veggies more expensive. It's cheap to make HFCS, so it is readily used to make inexpensive, less healthful food products that more people can afford. So not only is HFCS helping to make our country fat, they are poisoning us as well!

Going organic is worth the expense. And, it isn't necessarily all that much more expensive. Although, I do have to agree that some stuff is.

You can find moderate prices if you do your due dilligence.

My baby is only eating organic foods for the time being while we acclimate ourselves to buying more organic foods for ourselves.

Either way, I always check the ingredients for HFCS in anything I buy. And, I hardly eat at fast food restaurants anymore.

[mrsmaalox]

Going organic is worth the expense. And, it isn't necessarily all that much more expensive. Although, I do have to agree that some stuff is.

You can find moderate prices if you do your due dilligence.

My baby is only eating organic foods for the time being while we acclimate ourselves to buying more organic foods for ourselves.

Either way, I always check the ingredients for HFCS in anything I buy. And, I hardly eat at fast food restaurants anymore.

Can you believe they put that crap into baby formula? I made all of my babies' food from organics and I'm absolutely sure that is the reason they have no allergies, health or weight problems today.

[Melmart1]

The short-term extra cost of organic products is probably less than the overall toll to your health, and what that will cost you (not just in $) later.

[peewee's lovechild]

The short-term extra cost of organic products is probably less than the overall toll to your health, and what that will cost you (not just in $) later.

I agree 100%.

[peewee's lovechild]

Can you believe they put that crap into baby formula? I made all of my babies' food from organics and I'm absolutely sure that is the reason they have no allergies, health or weight problems today.

Yea, we process all of our baby's food. If we do buy any baby food, it's Gerber Organic, Earth's Best (baby organic food line), or Beechnut Organic.

But, we do our best to always process our baby's food with organic produce.

[peewee's lovechild]

And, she's not a fat baby at all and has been pretty damn healthy.

[mrsmaalox]

The short-term extra cost of organic products is probably less than the overall toll to your health, and what that will cost you (not just in $) later.

That's absolutely true. But at some socio-economic levels it requires a huge amount of education and change to get that point across and it's just not getting done.