Is cane sugar healthier than high-fructose corn syrup?
Share this @internewscast.com


() President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday that Coca-Cola will switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar has shaken up the world of sweeteners, raising questions about their health value.

While Coca-Cola officials have yet to confirm the recipe switch-up, CNBC reports that shares of high-fructose corn syrup producer Archer-Daniels-Midland have begun to fall.

As companies wait for sugar news to settle, here’s a closer look at the difference between the sweeteners.

What’s the difference between cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrup?

According to the Department of Agriculture, cane sugar is derived directly or indirectly from sugarcane, a tall perennial grass that grows in tropical and semitropical climates.

High-fructose corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch that is broken down into glucose, according to the Food and Drug Administration.  

Is cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup healthier?

Some studies have linked high-fructose corn syrup to elevated fat production and inflammation.

However, the FDA notes on its website that while it receives many inquiries asking about the safety of high-fructose corn syrup, the agency is not aware of any evidence 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.”

Overall, health experts advise against consuming too much of any type of sweetener or added sugars as health risks can include weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

How does the price compare for cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrup?

High-fructose corn syrup is cheaper than sugar cane. It’s been 41 years since U.S. Coke switched from sugar to cheaper high-fructose corn syrup, resulting from the Ronald Reagan-era sugar import quotas that caused domestic sugar prices to spike.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the app. Download it here.

“The government intervened during the Reagan administration and signed a law that placed high tariffs and quotas on imported cane sugar,” Ben Michael, attorney at Michael & Associates, told Reader’s Digest. “And U.S. trade policies still limit sugar imports to this day.”

According to the USDA, most of the sugarcane produced in the United States comes from Florida, Louisiana and Texas. According to the USDA, since the mid-2000’s sugarbeets have accounted for 55% to 60% of the sugar produced in the U.S.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Revolutionizing the Race: AI Smart Glasses Empower Visually Impaired Runners at the London Marathon

LONDON – As she jogs past the iconic Buckingham Palace, Tilly Dowler…

Greeneville Resident Arrested Linked to North Carolina Murder Investigation

Authorities in Madison County, North Carolina, have apprehended a Greeneville, Tennessee resident,…

Family Demands Justice After Mother Tragically Killed on State Road 46 While Walking with Baby

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities from the Florida Highway Patrol are diligently…

Massive Invasion: Jakarta Launches Urgent Cleanup to Combat Destructive ‘Janitor Fish’ Crisis

JAKARTA – Jubilant cheers erupted across Indonesia’s bustling capital on Friday as…

Supreme Court Decision Prompts Mississippi to Reevaluate Judicial District Boundaries in Voting Rights Case

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has declared his intention to…

China Resumes Panda Diplomacy: Giant Pandas Set to Return to Atlanta Zoo

BEIJING – The city of Atlanta is set to welcome giant pandas…

Tennessee Bureau Probes Source of Controversial Sullivan County Political Mailers

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has launched an inquiry into the…

Brave Protest: Wives Defy US Raid and Demand Justice for Husbands Detained in Venezuela

CARACAS – In the heart of Venezuela’s bustling capital, Mileidy Mendoza and…