There is no ban on high-fructose corn syrup in other countries, but the product does fall under quota limitations in Europe. Moreover, restrictions on genetically modified foodstuffs also impact U.S. exports of high-fructose corn syrup, even though the commodity itself is not banned.
DEFINITION
As its name implies, high-fructose corn syrup is a corn-derived sweetener. Manufacturers use enzymes and acids to covert cornstarch into glucose and fructose. The proportion of these two sugars varies, but most high-fructose corn syrup is about half glucose and half fructose. This syrup is slightly cheaper than sugar and is easier to use in some commercial food applications. It is a major component in soft drinks.
QUOTAS
High-fructose corn syrup -- called "isoglucose" in Europe-- is not banned in other countries but is subject to production quotas in Europe. These quotas are based on economic considerations, not health concerns. Because high-fructose corn syrup is a substitute for sugar in some commercial processes, it falls under European Union sugar regulations. European Council Regulation 1234/2007 of October 22, 2007, sets limits on the amount of high-fructose corn syrup each member state may produce. By 2011, however, the demand for sugar and isoglucose in Europe exceeded production by 1 million tons. As a result, the European Commission decided to relax surplus levies on these two commodities to allow for greater internal production and increased imports.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN
Some corn grown in the United States comes from genetically modified seed stock. Exports of high-fructose corn syrup made from these strains of corn are thus subject to bans in some countries on genetically modified foods. While the European Union technically does not ban genetically modified foods, such foodstuffs require approvals and, as of 2011, only two strains of genetically modified crops have approval for import into Europe. Because some EU member states have serious concerns about such modified products, early 2011 draft EU legislation gives member states the right to ban genetically modified foods on moral or religious grounds, or if public opposition to imports of such foods threatens the public order. These reasons, however, do not comply with World Trade Organization regulations and may leave countries that impose such bans vulnerable to lawsuits, according to assistant professor of law Thijs Etty of the University of Amsterdam.
Food with no Bad StuffHEALTH CONCERNS
Although high-fructose corn syrup is not banned, some research suggests that there is cause for concern. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for example, notes that adult males and post-menopausal women who consume high amounts of high-fructose corn syrup have increased levels of blood lipids, which are related to heart disease. The amount of high-fructose corn syrup in a normal diet, however, does not appear to pose any risk to heart health, according to the FDA. In a 2010 study at Princeton University, however, rats that consumed high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than rats who drank sugar-water or water sweetened with sucrose. In a separate study, also in 2010, the same researchers discovered that rats that consumed high-fructose corn syrup over a six-month period displayed signs of metabolic syndrome, a serious condition that often leads to heart disease and stroke.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/458653-why-is-high-fructose-corn-syrup-banned-from-other-countries/#ixzz2A8mhsxHY
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