Corn Syrup
FDA affirms corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR 184.1866. FDA states it is not aware of evidence that HFCS differs in safety from sucrose or honey at equivalent intake.
What it is
A sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture produced from corn starch hydrolysate. The high-fructose form (HFCS) contains approximately 42% or 55% fructose, with the remainder primarily glucose.
Caloric sweetener, humectant, viscosity modifier, and crystallization inhibitor.
Why it's flagged
- counts as added/free sugar; excessive intake is linked to overweight, obesity, fatty liver, cardiovascular disease
- contributes to dental caries
What regulators actually say
"High fructose corn syrup is a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose... the ingredient is used in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice."
"We are not aware of any evidence, including the studies mentioned above, that there is a difference in safety between foods containing HFCS 42 or HFCS 55 and foods containing similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners with approximately equal glucose and fructose content, such as sucrose, honey, or other traditional sweeteners."
"We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay. A further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Affirmed GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1866
European Union — EFSA
permitted (glucose syrup, fructose-glucose syrup)
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