The facts about high fructose corn syrup.

uses and benefits of high fructose corn syrup

NEWS

"The Sugar Fix" Statement

"King Corn" Statement

High Fructose Corn Syrup Natural Labeling Statement

NEW RESEARCH

Researchers Find Beverages Sweetened with HFCS and Sugar Have Similar Impact on Feelings of Fullness

Study Finds HFCS and Sugar Affect Feelings of Fullness and Uric Acid Similarly

Experts Conclude Evidence Lacking to Implicate High Fructose Corn Syrup as a Unique Cause of Obesity

Study Finds HFCS and Sucrose Affect Blood Glucose, Insulin, Leptin and Ghrelin Similarly

MORE RESEARCH

NEW ARTICLES

Much ado about high-fructose corn syrup in beverages: the meat of the matter

Weak Association Between Sweeteners or Sweetened Beverages and Diabetes

"The Sugar Fix" Statement"King Corn" StatementHigh Fructose Corn Syrup Natural Labeling StatementResearchers Find Beverages Sweetened with HFCS and Sugar Have Similar Impact on Feelings of FullnessStudy Finds HFCS and Sugar Affect Feelings of Fullness and Uric Acid SimilarlyExperts Conclude Evidence Lacking to Implicate High Fructose Corn Syrup as a Unique Cause of ObesityStudy Finds HFCS and Sucrose Affect Blood Glucose, Insulin, Leptin and Ghrelin SimilarlyMORE RESEARCHResearchers Find Beverages Sweetened with HFCS and Sucrose Affect Satiety SimilarlyStudy Finds Frequent Soft Drink Consumption Does Not Lead to Higher Obesity RatesResearchers Find HFCS and Sucrose Affect Uric Acid SimilarlyResearchers Find HFCS and Sucrose Affect Triglycerides SimilarlyHigh Fructose Corn Syrups, Part 1: Composition, Consumption, and MetabolismHigh Fructose Corn Syrups, Part 2: Health EffectsHighs and Lows of High Fructose Corn Syrup: A Report From the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy and Its Ceres ® WorkshopMuch ado about high-fructose corn syrup in beverages: the meat of the matterWeak Association Between Sweeteners or Sweetened Beverages and DiabetesArticlesFood Processing Article Provides Perspective on Science and HFCSCommentary in The Washington Times Puts Nutritional Advice Into PerspectiveFood Technology Article Provides Perspective on HFCS MythsNew York Times Article Reviews The Science - HFCS Myths DebunkedNutrition Today Articles Bring Much-Needed Perspective to HFCS in the Obesity DebateHFCS BasicsWhat is high fructose corn syrup?Per Capita Consumption of HFCSHFCS Is NaturalWhat the Experts Say About HFCSTop Published Myths About HFCSUses/BenefitsConsumer benefits of HFCSUses of HFCSHFCS Q & AWhat is the difference between HFCS and table sugar?Is HFCS a "natural" sweetener?Is HFCS sweeter than sugar?Is there a correlation between the introduction of HFCS and the rise of obesity in the past 30 years?Has the use of HFCS in the food supply increased the amount of fructose in the diet?Does consumption of HFCS, as compared to sucrose, reduce the ability of the body to produce insulin?Does the body process HFCS differently than other sugars?Is HFCS considered a safe food ingredient?Does HFCS have a high Glycemic Index?Is HFCS allergenic?How does HFCS serve as a flavor enhancer?How is HFCS made?Nutrition Today Articles Bring Much-Needed Perspective to HFCS in the Obesity DebateResearchers Find HFCS and Sucrose Affect Uric Acid SimilarlyResearchers Find HFCS and Sucrose Affect Triglycerides SimilarlyScientific Experts Conclude HFCS Is NOT A Unique Contributor to ObesityWhat is the Role of Physical Activity in a Balanced Diet?HomeFootnotesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Consumer Benefits of HFCS

Food companies formulate products to create foods and beverages that appeal to consumer needs and preferences. What matters most to consumers beyond assurance of basic safety? Taste tops the list, with nutrition, convenience and cost as close runners up. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is often the sweetener of choice because it provides many consumer benefits, including:

Sweetness

High fructose corn syrup provides sweetness intensity equivalent to sugar. High fructose corn syrup can replace sugar in one-for-one proportions.

Flavor Enhancement

The sweetness profile of high fructose corn syrup enhances many fruit, citrus and spice flavors in beverages, bakery fillings and dairy products.

Freshness

High fructose corn syrup promotes freshness in several ways. High fructose corn syrup actually inhibits microbial spoilage by reducing water activity and extends shelf life through superior moisture control. Foods also taste fresher because HFCS protects the firm texture of canned fruits and reduces freezer burn in frozen fruits.

Soft Texture

Chewy cookies, snack bars and other baked goods derive their soft and moist texture from high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup retains moisture and resists crystallization after baking.

Browning

High fructose corn syrup is a “reducing sugar” that gives superior browning and flavor to baked goods such as breads, dinner rolls, cakes, cookies and breakfast cereals.

Stability

Over time, high fructose corn syrup-sweetened products maintain sweetness and flavor with no change in sweetness or flavor quality due to storage temperature fluctuations or low product acidity. With high fructose corn syrup, this product stability maintains the quality of carbonated and still beverages, as well as condiments such as ketchup and fruit preserves.

Pourability

High fructose corn syrup has a lower freezing point, so “frozen” beverage concentrates have the added convenience of being pourable straight from the freezer and easier for consumers to thaw and mix with water.

Fermentability

About 96 percent of the sugars in high fructose corn syrup are fermentable. This is important in bread-baking because high fructose corn syrup is thus more economical to use than sucrose. An often overlooked benefit of high fructose corn syrup is that yeast “prefers” glucose and ferments it first, and as a result, the slight sweetness that consumers prize is accentuated.

In addition to the stability of the product and the cost-saving efficiency of using a liquid sweetener in the manufacturing process, food and beverage companies realize significant advantages when selecting high fructose corn syrup as the sweetener of choice in their products.

See the footnotes page for footnotes (1,2,15) that are apply this page.

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