In the land of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola we get the inferior versions. What? That’s right. Even though Coke comes from Atlanta and Pepsi originated in North Carolina they are not the real thing. Same goes for semi cola Dr. Pepper of Texas. You see Coke and Pepsi (and Dr. Pepper) in the USA are made with high fructose corn syrup. This stuff is terrible for you and doesn’t taste all that great. Why is that?
- High fructose corn syrup is thick, viscous and syrupy. The beverage feels thick in the mouth
- It has a corn like taste because it is made from corn duh. Corn juice.
- The body does not recognize it as being high in sugar content leading to a lack of fullness, high blood sugar levels and obesity
- It can contain mercury as discussed below due to the production process
- Companies use HFC as its cheap. They think you can’t tell the difference but you can side by side. They want the cheapest cost possible and want to sell all sodas at the same price. Sure they could sell an 8 pack of the sugar sodas at the same price and make a bigger profit but they would need to admit that their current product is inferior quality. That’s why they rarely offer the good stuff.
- If RC or some other cola brand had a brain they would sell a sugar version at a higher price and their product would be seen as premium. Imagine RC or some other bottom shelf brand as premium.
Now while I don’t condone drinking soda pop as health food once in a while it hits the spot as a treat. Just avoid the chips as a side. It is a 140 kcal. I do this when I need a pick me up and I had enough coffee taste for the day.
So what is a cola drinker to do? The following are made with real sugar so make you feel full, are less thick and better for you. They taste like the soda of youth. And no you can’t drink a big gulp of it. It’s too sweet and filling. Try to drink more than one and you will see. Automatic portion control.
- Coca Cola made outside the USA made with real sugar. The Canadian and Mexican versions are much better. When I go to Canada I stock up on the 12 packs of cans. Note no high fructose corn syrup. Canada below. Yummy! I am sure the Euro versions are the same.
USA corn syrup version is below. Yuck. Avoid. Bad for your metabolism and possibly mercury laden.
2. In the USA Wal Mart carries Pepsi with real sugar. Check the label. The can looks different. It is however hard to find. See pic. While some might prefer Coke versus Pepsi, sugar Pepsi tastes better than corny high fructose Coke. Try it side by side and you will see.
3. Look at other natural soda brands or lower tier brands
The good, the good and the bad. There is no ugly. Well Maybe the bad is also the ugly if contaminated and makes you fatter. The label says original taste but that is a lie. The original from the 80s did not have corn syrup. They gradually baked it in a little a time, gradually increasing the percentage of HFC from 0% to 100%. The devious , greedy devils.
So what else can we do?
- Demand companies stop using HFC as a sweetener
- Boycott items that have it
- Support brands that are sweetened with sugar
- By hitting companies in the pocket book they will get the message
- Tell your friends the truth
Older post below
Seeing we are talking about the dangers of mercury in dental amalgam and fish you should also be aware that mercury sometime turns up in unexpected places. I was suprised to see it turn up in high fructose corn syrup sweeteners. In fact the levels of exposure from corn syrup may be as much or higher than from fish.
- In fact a study at the University of Wisconsin found it in 45% of high fructose corn syrup samples they tested from 9 manufacturers.
- IATP purchased fifty-five food items from popular brands off grocery store shelves in the fall of 2008 — items in which HFCS was the first or second principal ingredient — and detected mercury in nearly a third of them.
- An EHO at the FDA conducted an investigation of the chlor-alkali industry in 2004 and found mercury residue in all of the mercury cell chlor-alkali products including caustic soda, chlorine, potassium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid.
The problem with that is that high fructose corn syrup is in all kinds of products. Think Coca Cola, granola bars, ketchup, barbeque sauce, candy etc. USDA estimates people consume an average of 42 pounds/ 19 kilograms of high fructose corn syrup per year! Some estimates are higher as in 56 pounds / 25 kilograms per person per year.
Why is mercury turning up in high fructose corn syrup?
- It is used as a catalyst in the creation of high fructose corn syrup. The contamination may have been due to the fact that mercury cells are used in the production of caustic soda, an ingredient used to make HFCS.
- Some leaks into the product. Articles show 8000 pounds of mercury being lost at one plant alone
- It likely leaks from every plant that used mercury in the caustic soda process used to make high fructose corn syrup. Not all plants use the mercury process but you don’t know which plant is supplying the corn syrup in the product you are consuming. So it’s safe to assume every product contains some amounts.
How can I avoid such mercury exposure?
- Avoid high fructose corn syrup. It’s bad for your body and metabolism anyways and is linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity etc.
- Get products with real sugar not high fructose corn syrup if you want them sweetened
- Instead of regular Pepsi buy the Pepsi Throwback/ Natural made with sugar
- Instead of Coca Cola buy the Mexican one made with real sugar or the natural version
- Get the more upscale barbeque sauce made with sugar instead of corn syrup. It tastes better anyways. Check the labels carefully and steer clear. So not Kraft but Stubbs.
- Buy more natural type products but check the labels to make sure the claims are not bs
- Drink beverages and foods with no sweeter like La Croix or Bubbly sparkling water instead of soda. Yeah you could drink diet soda too but aspartame has its own bad issues and so does sacharin and so do Stevia/Sucralose. If you need caffeine drink coffee or tea. Hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, iced tea, sparkling caffeinated waters etc.
Examples of products found to contain mercury? Basically any product where HFC is a major ingredient. Here is where one study found them.
Quaker Oatmeal to Go bars
Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce
Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars
Manwich Gold Sloppy Joe
Market Pantry Grape Jelly
Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly
Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry
Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup
Wish-Bone Western Sweet & Smooth Dressing
Coca-Cola Classic: no mercury found on a second test (where HFC is used instead of sugar)
Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt
Minute Maid Berry Punch
Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink
Nesquik Chocolate Milk
Kemps Fat Free Chocolate Milk
Why is there so much high fructose corn syrup in foods?
For the past several decades, the U.S. government has paid subsidies to American farmers to grow tons of corn (much of which — nearly 90 percent — is genetically modified) and shifted domestic agricultural policy to maximize corn crops. This made high-fructose corn syrup and other corn-derived processed ingredients much cheaper for industrial food manufacturers to use.
Basically big agricuture benefits from these subsidies. So yes it always comes back to money! Follow the money and you will have your answer. If you don’t believe me do your own research. Google, Bing, Duck Duck Go, Baidu, Yandex, whatever you use.
Scientific journal articles that backup these claims here in PDF form for your perusual
Mercury concentrations in corn syrup and corn syrup production
Products with HFCS found to contain mercury
Summary of the mercury high fructose studies
Mr. Cash Hoarder 