Much High Fructose Corn Syrup Contaminated With Mercury, New Study Finds Brand-Name Food Products Also Discovered to Contain Mercury

Minneapolis - Mercury was found in nearly 50 percent of tested samplesof commercial high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), according to a newarticle published today in the scientific journal, EnvironmentalHealth. A separate study by the Institute for Agriculture and TradePolicy (IATP) detected mercury in nearly one-third of 55 popularbrandname food and beverage products where HFCS is the first or secondhighest labeled ingredient-including products by Quaker, Hershey's,Kraft and Smucker's. HFCS use has skyrocketed in recent decades as thesweetener has replaced sugar in many processed foods."Just published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, EnvironmentalHealth, is the bombshell that commercial HFCS appears to be routinelycontaminated with mercury. It turns out the contamination isn't somuch accidental as newly recognized, given the fact that much HFCS hasbeen made and continues to be made using 'mercury-grade' causticsoda."HFCS is found in sweetened beverages, breads, cereals, breakfast bars,lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americansconsume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS. Consumption by teenagersand other high consumers can be up to 80 percent above average levels."While the FDA had evidence that commercial HFCS was contaminated withmercury four years ago, the agency did not inform consumers, helpchange industry practice or conduct additional testing." "Mercury istoxic in all its forms," said IATP's David Wallinga, M.D., and aco-author in both studies. "Given how much high fructose corn syrup isconsumed by children, it could be a significant additional source ofmercury never before considered.(from the US Autism and Asperger Association)