Researchers: Mercury Tainted HFCS in Produce

A policy group is calling on the U.S. food safety regulator and industry to make changes to practices as two studies claim the food supply is being contaminated by mercury tainted high fructose corn syrup.

According to a new article published in the journal Environmental Health mercury was found in nearly 50 per cent of tested samples of commercial high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

And a separate study by the U.S. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) claims mercury was detected in nearly one-third of 55 brand name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first or second highest labeled ingredient, including, it claims, products by Quaker, Hershey’s, Kraft and Smucker’s.

IATP’s Dr David Wallinga, M.D., and co-author of both studies, said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and food and beverage manufacturers must act now to eliminate what he claims is avoidable mercury contamination of food and drink products.

“Mercury is toxic in all its forms. Given how much high-fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered,” he added.

Source: FoodProductionDaily.com