What? It's not Natural?

What is with the all the "natural" products being advertised on TV? Maybe I haven't been watching enough of the boobtube and this trend has been going on for some time.

It started with a coca cola commercial for Coca Cola Natural or something along that line. After I watched the 60-second ad, I was wondering when did natrual food become a novelty? Something new and exciting ... and available for only a limited time?

I'm not a huge pop (or in American, soda) drinker, so I've never paid much attention to the adverts or the products they tout. But, it seems I'm the one sitting in the dark, as all the major soft drink manufacturers have released "natural" products - there's Pepsi Throwback and Mountain Dew Throwback, Fanta Natural, and the list goes on and on.

So, what makes the "natural" selections so special? Well, they use real sugar - cane and/or beet sugars. Again, the question must be asked, why is this a novelty?

And, I've realized that this is a novelty reserved for the US and likely Canada (I'll have to check out the labels when I'm next there). In the rest of the world, soft drinks are always made with natural sugar (probably because they don't have a corn industry that uses the government like a puppet in other countries). When on vacation, my soft drink of choice is Fanta. The times I've had it here I've been disappointed and a faintly ill from the faux-sugar high.

When I first tried my vacation Fanta it was served in a glass bottle, so I figured the specialness was the container. But, when last in Italy, Fanta was usually served to me in a can and it had the same crisp and refreshing taste. Curious, I peered at the ingredients and realized that was the difference. Real sugar and no additional food colourings, etc. Since it was more natural, it also had fewer calories.

And such things are referred to as innovation here that they warrant high-paying commercials!

A Sweet Surprise

Surprised? Yes. Sweet? Not so much.

Have you seen the new commercials by the Corn Refiners Association that promotes the "good" of High Fructose Corn Syrup? If not, check it out here.

Promo Line: "It's made from corn, doesn't have artificial ingredients and is fine in moderation."

Are you as aghast and appalled as I?

I took a quick look at their website and they list several "truths" about HFCS.

1. HFCS does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners.
   
   No denying it, there has yet to be a study that links HFCS to any health diseases. I guess we just have to wait for enough people to die from obesity-related diseases to evaluate this statement.
   
2. HFCS is nutritionally equal to sugar or honey.
   
   A calorie is a calorie, right? Therefore, if you're on a 2,000 calorie/day diet it doesn't matter if you're using your 2,000 calories to consume a chocolate cake or using those same calories spread across 3 to 5 balanced, nutritional meals. There wouldn't be any health effects there, right?
   
3. It contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients.
   
   This one is a knee slapper. A technicality really.
   
   Yes, HFCS is made from corn. But, the question is what type of corn? Just like other foodstuffs, corn has different grades. And, you can bet your bottom dollar you wouldn't eat HFCS corn as you would regular corn on the cob.
   
   Another question for you - how natural is machine-made food?
   
   The HFCS process doesn't begin with the actual corn, but rather corn byproducts like cornstarch and corn syrup (both of which have been highly process to begin with). Then, three different enzymes (at different points of the process) are added to these byproducts to increase their glucose and fructose values in the product.
   
   HFCS doesn't resemble its "primary" ingredient and doesn't hold any of the natural qualities of corn. Saying this, is HFCS really natural?
   
4. HFCS prolongs the shelf-life of food products.
   
   Now, if I was building up my personal bomb shelter, I'd be looking for food products that can stand the test of time. But, if I could go to the grocery store regularly, what's the point?
   
   Today, just about every processed food product contains HFCS. So, my question, if you're a person (not me and I really hope not you, either) on a steady diet of frozen dinners, pop/soda, boxed snacks and the like, how can you moderate your intake of HFCS?

So, the next time you see HFCS on the label, ask yourself if it is as natural as the Corn Refiners Association claim it to be.