Moved from the Budget Board: anyone else eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup

[jcarter29]

I agree...the MSG is stuff surprised me as much as HFCS. Especially the more "traditional" brands like Campbells. MSG in my soup...really? Not needed. Same thing with Pillsbury stuff like the frozen whole wheat rolls...HFCS and MSG....no thanks! Plus a lot of companies have started using other terms like "modified food starch" which is really MSG. It is all so much to keep up with!
Kim

 

[happycampers]

I agree...the MSG is stuff surprised me as much as HFCS. Especially the more "traditional" brands like Campbells. MSG in my soup...really? Not needed. Same thing with Pillsbury stuff like the frozen whole wheat rolls...HFCS and MSG....no thanks! Plus a lot of companies have started using other terms like "modified food starch" which is really MSG. It is all so much to keep up with!
Kim

Companies know that when we see "whole wheat", most consumers automatically assume that the item is healthy. I was excited when I saw a deal on whole wheat Pop Tarts, and then I read the label and found HFCS so I didn't buy them.

 

[LeeLeeLuvsDisney]

What kind of difference do you notice?

I eat a yogurt in the afternoon at work. With the other yogurt (with HFCS), I would always be reaching for something else about an hour later, usually chocolate, to bring my energy level back up. With the new yogurt (without HFCS), I feel more satisfied for the last couple of hours of work. That craving to nibble on something sweet is gone. They are the same size servings.

I've convinced DH to go along with the switch...the one thing he won't give up, though, is his soda. I'll probably have one every now and then...but I figure if we eliminate 90% of it, we're doing pretty good.

Oh, DH was snacking on Cap'n Crunch tonight. The ingredient list does NOT show HFCS on it!!! It's got a ton of sugar and brown sugar, but I guess it's okay in moderation! WOO HOO!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I just bought Oroweat bread tonight - the wrapper says in big letters NO HFCS!!!

 

[wowsmom]

We love Orowheat Hawaiian and also their Double Fiber bread.

Lucky Charms and Life also have no HFCS...and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, as well.

LeeLee, does your DH have to have a specific soda? You can find cane sugar sweetened sodas at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and some other stores.

I used to be all about Coke and Dr Pepper, but once I cut it out (along with my other HFCS laden foods), I found that I didn't want to be drinking the junk. I did stock up on Kosher for Passover Coke last spring (DH thought I was crazy for buying 20 2-liter bottles!) and since then, I basically drink Key Lime soda (from whole foods) or Jones Root Beer (when eating at Panera) and I also keep my eye out for Mexican Cokes - which I actually found at my local Target earlier this week!

I found that once I'd stopped drinking the HFCS sodas, they didn't taste very good to me any more. Good luck to your DH...that's been one of the hardest things to change for me.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

If more and more people do what we are doing, and stop buying products that have HFCS and trans fats, then maybe the manufacturers will get smart and take those ingredients out.

It makes me so angry that COke and other companies produce products for other countries without the HFCS, but not here.

You should here my 6 year old with me inthe grocery store. Mommy does this "snack" have HFCS??? If not can we buy it!!!!

maybe if everyone starts emailing the companies and letting them know -- so if yu have an email address for a specific item, please post it here so we can email.

 

[bumbershoot]

Interesting thing happened the other day.

Anyone who has read my posts here knows that my son has a very violent reaction to HFCS (and corn syrup and corn syrup solids). Further to that, since Sept we've known that his father (my husband) has a form of diabetes, and that his worst spikes happen with corn syrup products (normal table sugar has an effect, but nowhere near as HUGE as corn syrup products), but his spikes cause him to pass out, not get violent like DS.

Well we know that my MIL has diabetes...there's a language barrier, and she absolutely trusts her doctor, who has told her it's type 1. But he doesn't insist on insulin, she keeps her blood sugar in the 150s with diet, exercise, and metformin, so obviously her pancreas does work, and I highly doubt that this family doc ordered the testing to find out what kind...I think he just saw that she was thin, that her blood sugar was high, and decided it wasn't type 2 b/c she's not heavy (the opposite of the family doc who looked at hubby and said "type 2" without doing any testing just b/c of his body type...both utterly useless docs).

So she was in the hospital over the weekend after getting "tummy sick" and then not eating or drinking for 24-36 hours. She was fading from dehydration, so much so that we called 911 for her even while we were on our way to get her. She was there from Sat night to Tuesday.

On Tuesday, she was anxious b/c she was set to be discharged, and just had to wait for the doctor to give the orders after doing rounds. But it took ALL day for that to happen...literally those orders were written at 7pm. Ridiculous.

So she was having dinner, which was a tuna sandwich on whole wheat bread. Well, we'd already discovered that the bread used was Franz, and we narrowly averted a problem with DS by noticing that the Deli Honey Wheat is safe, while the others are not. So MIL ate half her sandwich, and suddenly became ENRAGED. I mean, nearly violent. Wanted to take out her picc line (which was in her ankle b/c she has really bad veins and that was the only one they could get, after her external jugular line had to be taken out b/c her neck was swelling up), wanted to rip off her heart monitor leads and just LEAVE, started nearly screaming at me, told me to go home b/c I was trying to keep her calm...she was SCARY.

Got home, looked up the deli Franz Whole Wheat to make sure...yep, it has HFCS. So does the normal whole wheat, in case it was not deli (but it was shaped like their deli bread).

Now this might have just been the end result of the hospital stay. But it happened just as fast and furiously as when DS has a reaction (which he had the other week, b/c he had some crackers I didn't check out first, UGH), and she was just as nasty as DS gets within 10 minutes of eating HFCS. So we don't KNOW, but it sure was coincidental and familiar-looking!

Oh how I hate that stuff!

 

[mill4023]

You better stop eating fruit too then. It's full of fructose.

It's always a good idea to cut down on the amount of sugar you're eating. But the fact is that fructose is fruit sugar. Not really any different from sucrose nutritionally. HFCS is no worse for you than eating cookies that you made with table sugar.

I should add that if you're allergic to corn, obviously this is a different issue.

 

[saremca]

We've been HFCS free for a couple of years now. I've written letters to companies asking them to remove the HFCS, and if they have I write them letters of thanks (Bulls Eye BBQ sauce and Snapple come to mind).

 

[wowsmom]

You better stop eating fruit too then. It's full of fructose.

It's always a good idea to cut down on the amount of sugar you're eating. But the fact is that fructose is fruit sugar. Not really any different from sucrose nutritionally. HFCS is no worse for you than eating cookies that you made with table sugar.

I should add that if you're allergic to corn, obviously this is a different issue.

For some people, like my son and myself, our bodies seem to react to/process HFCS differently. Both of us have hypoglycemia. I think most people don't have these wild reactions to HFCS, but I do believe people with blood sugar issues - like Bumbershoot's DH and MIL, my son and I - have different reactions. I'm not sure what the connection is, but I do believe there is a connection.

If I eat/drink something with HFCS, I feel very nasty, very witchy, want to scream at the DH and kids for no good reason, feel very stressed out.

If I eat something with sugar - for example, cookies I've made from scratch - I do not have these issues, although I might get hungry again within about 2 hours.

If I eat a piece of fruit by itself - for example, an apple - I will be very, very hungry within an hour, but I do NOT have any rage issues from it. Interestingly, if I eat a salad for lunch - even with meat on it - within an hour, I feel like I haven't eaten any lunch yet.

I think for some people, HFCS is very much an evil to be avoided. My DH and other son don't have any problems with it, but avoid it since I won't let it in my house. My niece, who is hypoglycemic, gets very nasty/rage filled after eating it.

Bumbershoot, good luck with MIL!

 

[Dukland]

You better stop eating fruit too then. It's full of fructose.

It's always a good idea to cut down on the amount of sugar you're eating. But the fact is that fructose is fruit sugar. Not really any different from sucrose nutritionally. HFCS is no worse for you than eating cookies that you made with table sugar.

I should add that if you're allergic to corn, obviously this is a different issue.

Fructose in fruit is naturally occuring. High Fructose Corn Syrup is a man-made chemical. There is a HUGE difference.

http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html

Here is an article about a study showing 55 brand-name products, made with HFCS, that show high levels of mercury.
http://healthy-family.org/caryn/1186

Totally not the same at all!!

And yes, one of my children IS allergic to corn, also!

 

[mrsklamc]

Why move a thread for being ot after a year and a half?

 

[wowsmom]

Why move a thread for being ot after a year and a half?

I wondered the same thing, too.

 

[Texan]

Due to my research regarding HFCS, and the wonderful people on the Dis boards who enlightened me to HFCS, my family and I have just about eliminated ALL HFCS from our diet. Only one product comes to mind in my pantry and frig that has it in there, and it is only there for my 18 year old who insists on it (Arizona Green Tea). Please do not make comments about HFCS, such as the one suggesting that it is the same has fructose, until you have done your own research. HFCS is a chemical; prior to my eliminating HFCS from our diet, I was buying a large portion of our diet that was preservative free, artificial color free, etc., and organic when I could, so why not eliminate another chemical from our diet, HFCS? And another question to you people out there, if you read labels like a mad scientist like I do, why would a company put BOTH sugar and HFCS in a product? Check your yogurt labels people. You will see what I am talking about. Why would "pure" vanilla have corn syrup? Why does Kellogg's, and most big brand names, LOVE HFCS? Cheap chemical sweetner. I could go on and on after reading labels. Makes you wonder. HFCS is a useless CHEMICAL.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Due to my research regarding HFCS, and the wonderful people on the Dis boards who enlightened me to HFCS, my family and I have just about eliminated ALL HFCS from our diet. Only one product comes to mind in my pantry and frig that has it in there, and it is only there for my 18 year old who insists on it (Arizona Green Tea). Please do not make comments about HFCS, such as the one suggesting that it is the same has fructose, until you have done your own research. HFCS is a chemical; prior to my eliminating HFCS from our diet, I was buying a large portion of our diet that was preservative free, artificial color free, etc., and organic when I could, so why not eliminate another chemical from our diet, HFCS? And another question to you people out there, if you read labels like a mad scientist like I do, why would a company put BOTH sugar and HFCS in a product? Check your yogurt labels people. You will see what I am talking about. Why would "pure" vanilla have corn syrup? Why does Kellogg's, and most big brand names, LOVE HFCS? Cheap chemical sweetner. I could go on and on after reading labels. Makes you wonder. HFCS is a useless CHEMICAL.

Hi Texan! I'm the OP and I'm now maintaining the site www.stophfcs.com.

I think it's used in conjunction with sugar because it extends the shelf life on baked goods. Keeps them nice and moist for a Loooooong time. Have you looked at the expiration date on Twinkies? LOL

It's also more stable then sugar. So if you bake/make your product in Georgia and ship it to Montana, the product keeps it's consistency.

I also do think the popularity has much to do with huge subsidies going to the corn industry and this byproduct is just a cheap bonus that's making agribusiness a buttload of money.

 

[abeyst]

For some people, like my son and myself, our bodies seem to react to/process HFCS differently. Both of us have hypoglycemia. I think most people don't have these wild reactions to HFCS, but I do believe people with blood sugar issues - like Bumbershoot's DH and MIL, my son and I - have different reactions. I'm not sure what the connection is, but I do believe there is a connection.

If I eat/drink something with HFCS, I feel very nasty, very witchy, want to scream at the DH and kids for no good reason, feel very stressed out.

If I eat something with sugar - for example, cookies I've made from scratch - I do not have these issues, although I might get hungry again within about 2 hours.

If I eat a piece of fruit by itself - for example, an apple - I will be very, very hungry within an hour, but I do NOT have any rage issues from it. Interestingly, if I eat a salad for lunch - even with meat on it - within an hour, I feel like I haven't eaten any lunch yet.

I think for some people, HFCS is very much an evil to be avoided. My DH and other son don't have any problems with it, but avoid it since I won't let it in my house. My niece, who is hypoglycemic, gets very nasty/rage filled after eating it.

Bumbershoot, good luck with MIL!

It's reassuring to hear someone else say they have these reactions to HFCS. I noticed it after drinking a soda. I originally thought it was carbs in general, but soon narrowed it down to just HFCS. We try to eat organic whenever possible, so now the kids think that I get a bad mood if I'm not eating organically, lol! They don't realize it, but I notice the change in them, too, when they do or do not consume it.

 

[2bearsmom]

What does everyone think of the Throwback Pepsi and Mountain Dew? We quit buying pop so long ago but I had to try to these. They taste just like I remember, no gross HFCS syrupy (if that's a word!) taste afterwards. I can only find it in the bottles by the checkout at my grocery store but I guess that's a good thing because I would be tempted to buy it all the time and I don't want to go down that path. It would be so nice though to have the choice to buy this all the time, like for our pizza night for example. Or to have for the summer at parties/bbq's. They are able to make it so why not have it available all the time, I'd pay a slightly higher price for it. It should be my choice.

We have basically been off all HFCS products for 2yrs now. The only thing I buy is graham crackers and I actually just had a bite of one yesterday when the kids were having some and I couldn't believe how sweet it was. I can't find any without it except the Back to Nature graham sticks. I finally got my youngest off of Hershey's choc syrup in his milk last year, I swear the kid was addicted to it and going through withdrawal! I then switched to Nesquik liquid and he rarely wanted it so I pitched it and he's rarely asked for choc milk since. I know the Horizon organic brand has real chocolate (and it is the best tasting choc milk) but it has so much sugar that I don't buy it. Some things have HFCS, corn syrup and sugar in one product, that's crazy! Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and some yogurts have HFCS and sugar, why? They trick you into thinking it's healthy because it has Vit D added and calcium and active cultures. I like the Stonyfield yogurt tubes, it actually lists all 6 active cultures it contains, has no HFCS and tastes really good. I was already used to reading labels because my youngest has nut/peanut and egg allergies. But it's still frustrating having to read every single thing before you drop it in the cart, HFCS, MSG and all the other names for MSG.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

It's reassuring to hear someone else say they have these reactions to HFCS. I noticed it after drinking a soda. I originally thought it was carbs in general, but soon narrowed it down to just HFCS. We try to eat organic whenever possible, so now the kids think that I get a bad mood if I'm not eating organically, lol! They don't realize it, but I notice the change in them, too, when they do or do not consume it.

I'm the same way. It took me a little while to realize that the soda was what was setting me off, but now that I know I just stick to water when I go out to eat.

Plus, I noticed a long time ago that any time I would have a coke with lunch (which was when I would go to subway) I was hitting the candy jar just about as soon as I was finished eating and would hit it all afternoon. Now that I avoid the sodas all together (unless it is one of the real sugar cokes) I don't eat nearly as much. I still crave chocolate and/or candy some, but not nearly as much as before.

 

[Dukland]

Yeah, I was shocked when I realized that almost all yogurt has HFCS in it. What a total sham!! I only buy Stoneyfield now, or the So Delicious brand with Coconut milk for my son, the Amazing Allergy Boy.

Wheat Thins has it, so I instead go to Trader Joe's and get their brand. Very good, and no HFCS. I get chocolate syrup from Trader Joe's, too. Oh, and ketchup. Annie's has a ketchup free from HFCS, but the Trader Joe's brand is cheaper, and free from it, also.

Did you guys know about the Coca-Cola made in Mexico? That has only pure cane sugar in it. No HFCS. So much better!!

 

[Swimnoid]

What does everyone think of the Throwback Pepsi and Mountain Dew? We quit buying pop so long ago but I had to try to these. They taste just like I remember, no gross HFCS syrupy (if that's a word!) taste afterwards. I can only find it in the bottles by the checkout at my grocery store but I guess that's a good thing because I would be tempted to buy it all the time and I don't want to go down that path. It would be so nice though to have the choice to buy this all the time, like for our pizza night for example. Or to have for the summer at parties/bbq's. They are able to make it so why not have it available all the time, I'd pay a slightly higher price for it. It should be my choice.

Funny you should ask! We bought some of the throwback pepsi and throwback Mt Dew. I am a Dew freak. I didnt like the throwback Dew as much as regular. It wasn't bad and I'm sure I could get used to it but I just had to laugh since I have been much more aware of the use of HFCS and thought "Oh wonderful! real sugar!" I should just be smart and drop both!