Q. Is high fructose corn syrup worse than sugar?

Written by Catherine Saxelby on Tuesday, 21 April 2009. Posted in Healthy weight loss
Tagged: fructose, weight loss

Q. I've read about high fructose corn syrup. Are there foods in Australia using it and is it worse than sugar?

A. High fructose corn syrup or HFCS is a type of sweetener made from maize or corn. The starch is extracted from the maize and converted into fructose, a natural sugar that's also found in fruit.

In the US, HFCS is popular and is commonly used in soft drinks because it's less expensive than cane sugar, which is what we use in Australia. However nutritionists have some concerns that HFCS may not be good for us.

Emerging evidence suggests that it may increase the risk of the metabolic syndrome - a cluster of health problems including insulin resistance, high blood pressure, obesity and high blood triglycerides.

It's thought that when the body turns HFCS into energy, it creates too-high levels of the unhealthy triglyceride fats in the process. So even though too much sugar is not good for us, the body seems to handle it better than HFCS.

Fortunately for our health, this sweetener is not used widely in Australia but be careful and read the labels on imported foods.

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Comments (10)

Ellen
22 November 2011 at 14:17 | #
Today I bought some Sara Lee baked cheesecake 'bites' - not the sort of thing I buy often anyway - but found it had 'high fructose syrup' in the ingredients list, which sounds like the same thing as what they're talking about in this article. Not that cheesecake's good for us anyway...but I think I'll just make it myself in future.
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Leanne
23 November 2011 at 15:08 | #
Forme Yoghurt lists fructose as an ingredient. Write to the company and tell them how we dont want this cheap and nasty sweetner in our foods. There is also evidence to suggest that fructose is being consumed in large amounts by our children and showing up as liver damage.
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Rosa
29 January 2012 at 09:19 | #
As far as I'm aware fructose is simply the sugars from fruit. and not necessarily the same as high fructose corn syrup. I think fructose can be consumed safely but should b e treated like all added sugars.
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Catherine Saxelby
30 January 2012 at 09:33 | #
Thanks for letting me know HFCS is in Australia in the Sara Lea cheesecake bites. Will take a look. Yes not something we want to eat a lot of, though.

Leanne and Rosa - yes fructose itself is a simple fruit sugar which we already consume anything we eat a piece of fruit. Nothing wrong with it but as you say should be counted as an added sugar if you have diabetes or are watching your weight. But HFCS is a sweetener made from starchy corn or maize which is different. thanks for your comments. Cheers Catherine
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Su J
08 February 2012 at 08:18 | #
Be aware that HFCS is in a lot of products in Australia, including the Bubble Teas that are becoming so popular. Ask for the tea to be made without HFCS.
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Catherine Saxelby
13 February 2012 at 10:26 | #
Thanks for pointing out the Bubble Teas - are these sold in shopping malls and drink bars? Is there a brand or a chain you have sampled Su? Are the teas overly sweet? Cheers Catherine
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Kel
17 May 2012 at 10:19 | #
Just wondering what HFCS might also be listed as on the ingredients panels?
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Sarah
05 June 2012 at 17:40 | #
Is corn syrup the same? It is listed on Arcardia Chai Latte powder.
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Andrew
15 July 2012 at 15:51 | #
Out of interest, in terms of food labeling in Aus, can a product list ingredients as "Sugar" without having being specific to type of sugar (ie HFCS)?
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- Catherine Saxelby
  30 July 2012 at 11:39 | #
  Yes you can see "sugar" on an ingredient list and it will mean cane sugar, the most common household sugar in Australia. I would expect to see high fructose corn syrup listed as that on a label and NOT hidden behind the more generic sugar. Similarly for honey or maple syrup - they're not "sugar" in my book. Agree?
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