Studies Find Mercury in Much U.S. Corn Syrup

Source: ABC News/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many common foods made using commercial high fructose corn syrup contain mercury as well, researchers reported on Tuesday, while another study suggested the corn syrup itself is contaminated.

Food processors and the corn syrup industry group attacked the findings as flawed and outdated, but the researchers said it was important for people to know about any potential sources of the toxic metal in their food.

In one study, published in the journal Environmental Health, former Food and Drug Administration scientist Renee Dufault and colleagues tested 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup and found detectable mercury in nine of the 20 samples.

Dufault said in a statement that she told the FDA about her findings but the agency did not follow up.

Dr. David Wallinga, a food safety researcher and activist at the nonprofit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said he followed up on the report to find mercury in actual food.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Health/wireStory?id=6741932

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Gee, who needs the Chinese - we're poisoning our own food supply. Wonder if this could have some link to the increased cases of autism besides mercury from other sources?

Thanks, Corn Growners Association! Too bad for you we've got fair trade organic cane sugar in the cupboard, and we're ditching anything made with HFCS. Boo.

corn syrup and they needed gloves and goggles because parts of the process are toxic.
Also, a factory making high fructose corn syrup wouldn't allow them to visit and view the process.

is very toxic, so all things in perspective.

edited for grammar.

...introduces mercury into the corn syrup during processing and then they cover up the fact that it's there in tiny quantities. Well, that figures, profits are what matters to big corporations not human safety. These bastards will do whatever it takes to maximize profits and when they get caught they go right into denial mode. White collar crime pays big dividends

Remember the news about Bayer knowingly distributing HIV infected medication? Outrageous!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR7V-rCTnjw

or maybe it's an evolutionary trend.
origins of autism

That reminds me of the time years ago when a friend back East was trying to explain autism to her friend, who thought for a moment and then said, "Sounds like the next step in evolution".

Maybe instead of calling the rest of you "neurotypicals", we should call you "dinosaurs". :evilgrin:

edit: spelling

I blame my diabetes on high fructose corn syrup. Nice to see they added a little something extra to that beta cell killing concoction!

between high fructose corn syrup back when the industry was trying to move away from sugar and towards corn syrup.

But Castro produced the cane sugar, and our nation's regulatory agencies decided "Better dead than red!"

.
.
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sorta makes you wonder . . .

industrialized nations with better healthcare. Diabetes and heart disease are largely entirely preventable yet they are among the biggest killers in our society.

How much longer could people be living if we weren't getting killed by what we eat and by our lack of healthcare to treat us for it?

I believe that HFCS was the whole reason behind the "New Coke," back in the 80s.

First, Coca-Cola wants to use HFCS, but isn't sure if it will have an impact on taste. So, they introduce "New Coke," with a slight flavor difference while they replace good old sugar with HFCS in the old formula. They perfect the new "Old" Coke with HFCS, and mercifully brings it "back" when the public complains about the flavor of "New Coke." They bring back "old" Coke, now with HFCS, and people say hooray, old Coke is back, even though it isn't.

OK, it is my little conspiracy theory, but the timing during the 80s seems about the same as the mass-introduction of HFCS into the food industry.

Ever notice that Twinkies don't taste the same, either?

Watching people keep themselves going on lifelong medications and other medical treatments...is this a good thing? Especially if they could have been prevented?

Our kids are not allowed HFCS in their diets. We are really specific with daycare and everyone else: no trans fats, no HFCS, and no artificial flavors or colors. It gets tough, but I believe all that shit is toxic and won't help our quality of life.

He has research that show links between all kinds of kids mental disorders (ADHD, ADD, autism, etc) with food additives and other crap that is put in our foods.

By the food producers, I assume?

Granted he was on to something, but he very quickly went out of scope. And part of his research suggested "Artificial Flavors" and "Artificial Colors" were responsible. A definition of what exactly makes a flavor natural or artificial was never established - and the USDA has some freaky guidelines. Almond Extract, for example, is an artificial flavor. Using Arsenic (which is legal...hoo boy!) for the same flavor is considered "Natural."

But you have to label it "crunchy, raw, unboned, real, dead frog" if you wish to avoid prosecution.

:puke: I try to avoid it altogether but it's not easy. :argh:

I'm a label reader. I don't buy anything with "flavored" ingredients either, including
"natural flavoring". People need to start educating themselves on ingredients in the
food they eat. This should also be taught in high school health classes.

How on earth do they get away with this stuff? No wonder we are all sick.

MSG is natural. I love it on burgers.

Oh yeah, we do. It's artificial flavors and colors. And vinegar...what else?

MSG has been used in Chinese culture for 1000's of years. Strangely enough, they also invented ketchup.

and I'm not on a diet
just eliminating it my body changed

We are being poisoned

But the problem is one of affordability. Sure, you can find bakery goods that don't have HFCS in them, but they're often twice the price. Try to find bread that doesn't have HFCS in it, it's almost impossible with the 'normal' breads! That and soy. Soybean oil is everywhere. I can't afford the good stuff right now, so I'm just taking my chances with the regular stuff until a few months from now, when I will break down and finally buy a bread machine and make my own damn bread.

On a side note, I was watching Dr. Oz, Oprah's favorite doctor (for the moment) say a guaranteed way to become obese is to go on food stamps. The only kinds of foods most people on food stamps buy, is the highly processed, chemically-laden crap. Fresh vegetables or fruit? Good luck.

Drunk (on power), Fat (corn syrup) and Stupid (Mercury poisoning) is no way to go through life, America.

Now just wait for a study on corn syrup that proves "corn syrup" doesn't cause "autism", while mercury poisoning is still proven to promote various conditions in different people, some resembling autism.

Also: autism is just a description of symptoms that could come from a variety of causes so the "one condition one cause" concept should be erased from the public consciousness.

There are a number of factors in the environment that affect the mind and body: Heavy metals, disease, diet, evolutionary processes, we have all be exposed to more than one in our lifetime and more than one can add up. Until we adopt a holistic approach and forget this "one condition one casue" mindset we won't make any progress.

For that matter, I still haven't seen a trustworthy source linking mercury from any source to autism.