I consider myself a scientist, not a conspiracy theorist, and as compelling as the correlational data between the rise in HFCS and obesity appeared, the food industry continued to reassure everybody that HFCS was “just another sugar” and not responsible for the fattening of America.
So it was with considerable interest that I read that one of the most well-respected psychologists (Bart Hoebel of Princeton) in the area of appetite had taken on the HFCS question. If anyone is free to do his own thing without worrying about ticking off an industry, it’s Bart.
Bart Hoebel Takes on Big Food
Bart’s experiment was simple–match calories from HFCS and sucrose. Rats on HFCS not only gained 48% more weight, but they showed classic symptoms of metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition affecting many Americans. The rats had more abdominal fat and higher triglycerides.
The problem is that you can hardly avoid the stuff–we know, we’ve tried. The research often refers to HFCS in soda, which we don’t drink, but the stuff is in nearly every packaged product in the store. It’s in baby Tylenol, FiberOne bars (that are supposedly healthy), and even in Rice Krispies. Why does anyone need sweetener in Rice Krispies? Why can’t you just sweeten it yourself?
We're Swimming in Syrup
In the meantime, the Corn Refiners Association has launched a big “Sweet Surprise” campaign supporting HFCS. On their site, they say that the studies that find any dangers associated with HFCS “lack scientific merit.” Hmmm, don’t try telling that to Bart Hoebel! And don’t forget to read those labels!
