The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) released alarming information in January of this year:
Two separate studies found significant amounts of mercury contamination in tested samples of high fructose corn syrup. The IATP analyzed consumer products with HFCS as the first or second ingredient – including from major manufacturers like Quaker, Kraft, Hershey’s and Smuckers- and found mercury contamination in 33% of the 55 popular brandname food and beverage items.
In the January 26, 2009 edition of the journal, Environmental Health, it was reported that 50% of commercial HFCS samples tested contained mercury. it was further noted that an environmental health organization at the EPA found mercury contamination in HFCS as far back as 2004 but failed to make the information available to the public, or change industry manufacturing practices.
According to the IATP, mercury-grade caustic soda (via an outdated mercury-cell technology found in 10% of U.S. industrial chlorine [chlor-alkali] plants) has been used in making HFCS for decades, which could ultimately contaminate HFCS with mercury. There are safer manufacturing systems available but may increase production costs.
The negative metabolic consequences of HFCS were previously outlined in my October 2008 newsletter. This new information provides another rationale for avoiding any snack, beverage or processed food containing HFCS. Mercury in all forms is toxic.
