Wednesday, September 23, 2009

We knew it was bad for us

Just not THIS bad:

MONDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury, which was also found in nearly a third of 55 popular brand-name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled ingredient, according to two new U.S. studies.

HFCS has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods such as breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms. 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 [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply," the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Dr. David Wallinga, a co-author of both studies, said in a prepared statement.

h/t to Bryan of Why Now?

9 comments:

Mike Goldman said...

HFCS is simply bad for you, mercury or not. And besides, I've heard mercury is good for you! :-P

ellroon said...

WTF?! Mike, where on earth do you find these?!

Mike Goldman said...

This blogspace is no longer my primary blogspace. What I send you is only a tiny fraction. People are freaking out about the H1N1 flu vaccines because they allegedly contain mercury and don't seem to be at all useful or necessary for most people. But that is not a subject I have seen discussed on liberal blogs yet...

Mike Goldman said...

*

Mike Goldman said...

Okay, WTF?

Mike Goldman said...

Ellroon, this is a big effing deal.

ellroon said...

I just don't understand why they need to use mercury at all. It's poisonous...

Will post.

Stephen Fletcher said...

http://stephen-fletcher.blogspot.com/

i talk alot about watford.
have a read and you can have an opinion

ellroon said...

Um... thanks for your comment, Stephen. I've done my time on the sidelines of soccer fields here in California, but I do not follow British soccer.

I wish Watford and you the best!