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Volitzer
02-10-2009, 03:34 AM
High-Fructose Corn Syrup High in Mercury

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:27 AM

By: Sylvia Booth Hubbard Article Font Size



Two new studies found mercury in almost half of the samples of high-fructose corn syrup tested. In addition, almost a third of products which listed HFCS as the first ingredient contained mercury.


“Mercury is toxic in all forms,” said Dr. David Wallinga of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and co-author of 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.”


The first study found mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. The second study found mercury in almost one-third of 55 brand-name foods.


Many manufacturers of HFCS use mercury-grade caustic soda during processing, among other things, to separate the corn kernel from corn starch. The mercury can contaminate the caustic soda which, in turn, contaminates the HFCS.


The mercury-contaminated products tested included name-brands such as Quaker, Hershey’s, Kraft and Smucker’s and included products such as Smucker’s strawberry jelly, Hershey’s chocolate syrup and blueberry Pop Tarts.




“The bad news is that nobody knows whether or not their soda or snack food contains HFCS made from ingredients like caustic soda contaminated with mercury,” said Wallinga. “The good news is that mercury-free HFCS ingredients exist. Food companies just need a good push to only use those ingredients.”



© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved

http://www.newsmax.com/health/corn_syrup_high_mercury/2009/01/28/175903.html

ryanduff
02-10-2009, 06:08 AM
Posted here over a week ago...

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=177072