Moderation is the key to a healthy diet, but how are Americans supposed to accomplish this when the vast majority of food products in the grocery store contain HFCS? According to Daniel Engber, author of theslate.com article ""Dark Sugar: The decline and fall of high-fructose corn syrup,"" high-fructose cornsyrup ""accounts for almost half of the added sugars in the U.S. diet today."" A staple of that diet is soft drinks, of which ""the average child drinks over 500 cans a year."" Now estimate the amount of HFCS consumed by children and adults annually, considering the previous statement on soda alone. Moreover, the reason why HFCS replaced regular sugar was not only about cost, but also the product having a longer shelf life. Therefore, a multitude of sources include this type of sweetener to preserve it longer, and HFCS appears everywhere you look while grocery shopping as a result. I have found that even in something as simple as bread, HFCS can be found, not without noticing the concurrent ""100% Wheat"" and ""All-Natural"" affirmations among the many brands.
I agree that HFCS is not the only source of the problem for the ever-present obesity problem in America, but it is not as innocent as it seems. Sean McMaster's statements in ""High-fructose corn syrup is high in misconception,"" are valid, however he failed to realize the simple truth of the matter that moderation is virtually impossible. With HFCS accounting for almost half of the added sugar today, and the fact that it is present in the kinds of foods commonly overconsumed by Americans, excess in fructose is significant. Americans need to get healthier and be more active, but the food we eat needs to get healthier too.
—Kyle Swiggum
