March 18, 2010

The Corn Refiners Association has launched a major advertising campaign to improve the image of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), in response to the American Heart Association's recent statement on the health risks of consuming too much sugar, HFCS, and other caloric sweeteners.

The Corn Refiners Association, which represents companies that make HFCS and other corn products, has questioned the validity of the findings, calling some of the fructose studies "misleading." The ads, which state that HFCS is natural and "nutritionally equal" to sugar, are aimed at "correcting the record."

However, the Sugar Association has weighed in, calling the ad campaign "false and misleading," and stating that while sugar exists naturally in almost every fruit and vegetable, it is most abundantly found in sugar cane and sugar beets. 

According to Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the debate should center on reducing sugar in all forms. "We should be consuming a lot less of both sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, starting with soft drinks."

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Corn Refiners Association multi-media advertising campaign