NATURAL

20 servings of spagetti sauce
Source

Number of servings required to reach IOM1 added sugars threshold (≤ 25% of calories2) for a variety of foods. Number of servings = 500 kcal ÷ (sugars content x reference amount x 4 kcal/g) 1. Trumbo P, Schlicker S, Yates AA, Poos M. Institute of Medicine. Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acids. J Am Diet Assoc 2002; 102: 1621-1630.
2. Equals 500 kcal/day for 2,000 kcal/day diet.

Is HFCS Natural? Yes, Under FDA Policy.

High fructose corn syrup meets the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) test for use of the term “natural.”1 As noted in the letter, the FDA’s longstanding policy on use of the term “natural” means that “nothing artificial (including artificial flavors) or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in or has been added to a food that would not normally be expected to be in the food.”

HFCS is made from corn, a natural grain product, and enzymes used in production of HFCS are found in nature.

HFCS and Sugar: They're Both Processed Foods

It is a popular misconception that high fructose corn syrup is more “processed" than sugar, fruit juice concentrate or agave nectar production. HFCS is refined with similar production methods to other sugars, making it no more "processed" than any other sweetener.

How HFCS is made
How HFCS is made
Source

White JS. 1992. Fructose syrup: production, properties and applications, in FW Schenck & RE Hebeda, eds, Starch Hydrolysis Products – Worldwide Technology, Production, and Applications. VCH Publishers, Inc. pp. 177-200 and Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Additives, http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm

1. Letter from Geraldine June, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, to Audrae Erickson, President of the Corn Refiners Association, July 3, 2008.

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MINTEL STUDY:
FEWER THAN 3% OF SHOPPERS SPECIFICALLY AVOID HFCS IN 12 HIGH-VOLUME F&B CATEGORIES

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Mintel Study:
Examines Consumer Concern Across 12 Top F&B Categories

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Welcome

When it comes to sweeteners, making the right choice is critical to your brand and your bottom line.

At Corn Naturally, we'll help you make informed decisions with the latest facts on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from leading independent experts, including Mintel, Nielsen, NPD and top members and organizations of the scientific community. Come here for the tools and resources you need to make sound sweetener decisions.

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  • Are you considering a change in sweeteners used in your products? Before you act, get the facts. Find out what consumers really think about HFCS, understand the true cost of reformulation and learn the latest on sweetener science at Corn Naturally.

    For answers on the concerns facing your industry, go to the Food and Beverage Manufacturers page.

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