It looks like it’s not just our waistlines that are getting larger from consuming a ton of High Fructose Corn Syrup. A new study shows that pancreatic cancer cells find fructose much easier to metabolize than glucose, making it easier for the cancer cells to grow, divide and multiply. [More]
sugar
Dr. Pepper Temporarily Ditches HFCS To Celebrate 125th Birthday
By 7.8.10
If you’re a real sugar fan and you spot a really old looking can of Dr. Pepper at your grocery store in the next few weeks, you might want to stock up. To celebrate its 125th anniversary, the soda brand is going retro with its can designs — and its sweetener. [More]
Kosher Coke Is Once Again Here For Passover
By 3.22.10
Passover might not be starting until next week, but Coca Cola has already begun distributing 2-liter bottles of its kosher formula, which replaces high fructose corn syrup with sugar, to stores around the country. I know because I’ve got some chilling in the fridge. [More]
Food Companies Start Listening To Customers, Ditch High Fructose Corn Syrup
By 3.17.10
Do Americans feel strongly enough about high fructose corn syrup to seek out food without it? Will anyone go out of their way and pay extra to find soda or ketchup without the controversial corn-based sweetener? AdAge reports that some companies are removing it from their products, but have discovered that marketing the change without alienating consumers who weren’t aware of or simply don’t care about the presence of HFCS poses unique problems. [More]
Grocery Shrink Ray Strikes Store-Brand Sugar
By 12.9.09
The grocery shrink ray has struck bags of sugar in two different parts of the country. Bags that a rational consumer would assume contain five pounds of sugar–since they’ve contained five pounds of sugar for as long as most Americans can remember–now contain four pounds of sugar. Somehow, we don’t think that grocers are doing this as an effort to reduce Americans’ sugar consumption. [More]
Coke's 90-Calorie Can Will Still Have 5 Teaspoons Of Sugar
By 10.20.09
As part of its ongoing efforts to “help consumers balance calories consumed with calories expended,” Coca-Cola plans to roll out a 90-calorie can later this year. The 7.5-ounce can will include about 5 1/2 teaspoons of sugar (or high-fructose corn syrup), and may sell for about 50 cents per can.
New Coke Labels Show How Many Empty Calories You're Drinking
By 10.2.09
Coca-Cola is getting ready to roll out new labels that will prominently display the calorie count for each bottle or can. “Now more than ever, people expect facts about the products they consume to be both readily available and visible,” said CEO Muhtar Kent. What facts won’t be on those labels? Any information about where the calories come from, like, say, high fructose corn syrup, is relegated to its traditional spot in the Nutrition Facts box. But with most non-diet sodas, the math is pretty easy: If the label says 100 calories, that’s pretty much 100 calories of sugar or corn syrup.
Surprise! Frappuccinos And Coolatas Are Not Health Food
By 9.23.09
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have just released the findings of a 2007 study on “blended coffee beverages” served by Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. The conclusion: “Calories in blended coffee beverages are high … modifying standard formulations of blended coffee beverages, such as using low-fat milk or smaller serving sizes, would also reduce calorie content.” Um, yeah.
Hy-Vee Invites Customers To Fight Diabetes While Getting Diabetes
By 9.11.09
A reader sent us this great event that Hy-Vee, a midwestern grocery chain, recently held to fight diabetes. Unfortunately the benefit has already ended, but join them next weekend when they fight cirrhosis with dollar beers.
New York City's Anti-Soda Grossout
By 9.2.09
In the wake of New York State’s failed attempt to tax sugary sodas and juice drinks, the New York City Health Department has come out with a public service campaign to curb consumption the soft way: with the hard sell.
Cut Back On Sugar, Says American Heart Association
By 8.25.09
The American Heart Association says we’re eating way too much extra sugar, meaning sugar that doesn’t naturally occur in our foods. The average American consumes 22 teaspoons a day. By contrast, the average woman should eat no more than 6 teaspoons daily, while the average man, owing most likely to his increased awesomeness, should eat no more than 9 teaspoons a day. [Eats another teaspoon of sugar before resuming typing.]
Mercury: High-Fructose Corn Syrup's Secret Ingredient?
By 8.13.09
First, we learn of a possible sugar shortage, now an article by Mother Jones finds that part of the production procedure for high-fructose corn syrup might involve contaminating it with mercury. Basically, today is the best day ever for the president of NutraSweet.
Food Companies Warn Of Impending Sugar Shortage, Misery, Doom
By 8.13.09
The food companies say we are on the brink of a sugar shortage that will wreak havoc on your candy bars and all that. According to the WSJ several large food companies including Kraft Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Hershey Co. and Mars Inc. sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warning that the US could run out of sugar if we don’t get rid of some tariffs.
Circa 1960s Ad: Sugar Prevents Overeating
By 7.3.09
Last week, we wrote about how sugar isn’t any better than corn syrup when it comes to you health. But it turns out we were wrong. According to this old ad I just found, sugar is perfect for weight-watching: “That’s because sugar helps prevent you from overeating… with sugar in your diet, you’re happier with smaller portions of everything.”
Convert Your Favorite Snack Into Sugar Cubes
By 5.5.09
This website displays photos of soft drinks, smoothies, candy, and even vegetables next to little piles of sugar cubes that represent the total sugar in them. This is a great service, because if you ever go into space you can simply use this site to pack a baggie full of an equivalent amount of cubes. Then you can enjoy your Space McFlurry without worrying about liquid contamination of the spacecraft.
Do Consumers Really Care About High Fructose Corn Syrup?
By 4.30.09
We’ve been getting reports from readers that Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback are showing up in stores. Heartening news since Passover Coke season is over. “The second ingredient (after water) is ‘Sugar’ not the dreaded HFCS. Oh, and it is delicious,” Wyatt in Minnesota told us.
Kosher Coke Continues Its Popularity Among Sugar Lovers
By 4.9.09
Now that Pepsi has gotten the message that some people just prefer sugar-sweetened-soda, we’re wondering why Coke doesn’t offer it’s Kosher for Passover version all year round. It’s certainly popular with Coca-Cola aficionados of all religious persuasions.
Three New HFCS-Free Drinks From Pepsi
By 3.6.09
We already told you about Pepsi Throwback and Mountain Dew Throwback — now there’s Pepsi Natural.
