A recent report published in Environmental Health was said to have provided “incomplete data and misleading conclusions” regarding the levels of mercury in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), according to ChemRisk.
By Ellie Duncan
The scientific consulting firm branded the findings as incorrect and irresponsible after two studies were published concerning detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS.
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) claimed it found that nearly one in three of 55 brand-name foods contained mercury.
However, ChemRisk said the IATP report failed to recognise basic scientific facts regarding mercury and that it ignored common dietary sources of mercury, an element widely present in the environment at low concentrations.
MAKING THE NEWS
The news will come as relief to consumers in the U.S. who were concerned that there should be any detection of mercury in food products.
In the assessment commissioned by the Corn Refiners Association, ChemRisk went on to say that the authors of both reports ignored important distinctions between organic and other forms of mercury and their implications for assessing human health risk.
HFCS has attracted negative press of late as links between the product and increasing levels of obesity and cases of diabetes in the U.S. have been made. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington DC-based consumer group, found that “there isn’t a shred of evidence that high-fructose corn syrup is any more harmful (or healthier) than sugar”.
For more information, please visit: www.corn.org