What better day to attack corn farmers than Valentine’s Day! That’s right! Your GMO corn syrup is polluting all the Valentine’s Day candies out there, according to an online publication called “Think Progress.” It was voted the “Best Liberal Blog” in 2006 and won an award for journalism excellence in 2008. Tired of all the corn and HFCS hate? Here’s some information for you to keep in your back pocket for when you have a chance to talk with someone about this issue. Providing education and outreach on corn and corn issues is one of the Illinois corn-checkoffs top priorities. 

Here’s a link to the original article, “ Your Valentine’s Day Chocolate Is Mostly Corn.” You can comment in the area below the blog if you’re so inclined to contradict its points. They’re the standard misrepresentation and lies about agriculture and more specifically, corn and corn products.

Looking for some talking points on HFCS to help in your conversation? Here you go:

MYTH: Sugar is healthier than high fructose corn syrup

FACT: High fructose corn syrup is basically the same as sugar—both in terms of composition and in the number of calories they contain. Since high fructose corn syrup and sugar are so similar, the human body absorbs them the same way.

MYTH: High fructose corn syrup is to blame for obesity and diabetes

FACT: There is no scientific evidence that high fructose corn syrup is to blame. The American Medical Association stated in a press release that, “After studying current research, the American Medical Association concluded that high fructose

corn syrup does not appear to contribute more to obesity than other caloric sweeteners…”

MYTH: HFCS is high in fructose

FACT: Contrary to its name, high fructose corn syrup is not high in fructose.21 It has levels of fructose to create a similar composition to sugar. It has either 42% or 55% fructose, which is comparable to sugar with 50% fructose.

MYTH: HFCS is made from corn which is highly subsidized and therefore is a

cheap ingredient placed in everything

FACT: Manufacturers of corn sweeteners do not receive government support payments for these products; sugar and honey are the only caloric sweeteners that benefit directly from government support.

MYTH: HFCS is not natural

FACT: High fructose corn syrup is made from corn, a natural grain product and is a natural sweetener. High fructose corn syrup contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients or color additives. It also meets the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s requirements for use of the term “natural.”