News

No name change for HFCS

The Food and Drug Administration has ruled High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) cannot be called “corn sugar”. The Corn Refiners Association had filed the request in September of 2010 as part of a campaign contending there is no difference between sugar and HFCS. After 20 months of consideration, the FDA determined the name change would only confuse consumers and could pose a health risk to those who have fructose intolerance.

In a letter to the Corn Refiners Association the FDA stated “the use of the term ‘sugar’ to describe HFCS, a product that is a syrup, would not accurately identify or describe the basic nature of the food or its characterizing properties.” The Agency also noted that for more than 30 years, “corn sugar” has been used to describe dextrose.