Mercury is a neurological toxin. It’s not safe in any quantities.
And a study published yesterday in the scientific journal, Environmental Health, found that mercury is present in 50% of commercially available High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) thanks to a production method that involves using mercury-contaminated caustic soda to separate the corn starch from the kernel.
In case you hadn’t already noticed, HFCS is in everything. Breads, cereals, lunch meats, yogurts, soups, condiments, beverages. Nothing is spared thanks to its abnormally cheap price — a price held low by government corn subsidies and tariffs on imported sugar.
As it turns out, a separate study by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) detected mercury in nearly one-third of 55 popular brandname food and beverage products where HFCS is the first or second highest labeled ingredient—including products by Quaker, Hershey’s, Kraft and Smucker’s.
The average American consumes about 10% of their calories per day as HFCS!
Want to know the real kicker? The FDA has known this since 2005 and did nothing to warn consumers or change industry practices!
How’s that for instilling confidence in our governmental regulatory bodies?
FabFamilia says
WTF?! If anyone knows why we are doing this to ourselves, each other, Earth, lemme know. I can’t wait till our nurturing, inspirational cultural revival “chokes out” this toxic misunderstanding! Thanks for all the info
cynthia says
It,s called money and greed!
Kimberly Hartke says
Oh, NOOOO! Stop Corn Subsidies NOW! We have to do a sequel to King Corn and add this latest tidbit, YIKES!
Thanks for the warning.
Kimberly
Kimberly Hartke
KristenM says
FabFamilia — Obviously, I’m equally as outraged. There’s a pretty believable theory out there that the skyrocketing rates of autism are in part due to misdiagnosed cases of heavy metal poisoning (the symptoms are remarkably similar). And of course, no one denies the exponential increases in mercury levels in our oceans, our food, our vaccines.
Kimberly — I would love to see that! You know, this ought to be front page news EVERYWHERE today. I wonder if it’s even getting a mention in the press.
jenny says
I just blogged this too. The most upsetting thing to me: the FDA has known about the mercury contamination for 4 years and FAILED TO ACT! They shut down farmers for selling raw milk, but let HFCS manufacturers continue selling mercury laced, GMO sweeteners to the public.
jenny
Elisabeth says
Crikey – this is shocking and not on my radar, so thanks. King Corn and the Sugar Barons – perhaps we need a viral video for kids to spread the message!
Elisabeth
Booms says
Food is big buizness…..all about the money…….bigger better faster more, and that’s what people want. You gotta step away from what they are selling and think for youself!!!!
GO ORGANIC!!!!
Janice says
This is outrageous. Our government is actually against us. I think they (politicians) want us to keep our heads in the sand. We need to speak up. I don’t really even know how but I know we should. We can stop this if we set our minds to it. Who’s with me?