Consumers groups (again) petition FDA to refuse ‘corn sugar’ moniker for HFCS

17-Apr-2012 - Last updated on 18-Apr-2012 at 14:47 GMT

A coalition of consumer groups has written to the FDA urging it to “act decisively” and refuse the Corn Refiners Association’s petition to allow ‘corn sugar’ as an alternative name for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) on ingredient lists.

The organizations joined together last year to submit comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opposing the Corn Refiners’ petition, claiming that allowing ‘corn sugar’ as an alternative name for the sweetener could mislead consumers. Signatories of this latest letter, addressed to FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, are the National Consumers League, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, and Shape Up America!.

The groups said that nearly 5,000 comments sent to the FDA oppose the name change at a ratio of 100:1. The FDA has yet to make a decision about the use of the term ‘corn sugar’.

Executive director of the National Consumers League Sally Greenberg said: “The FDA has a statutory responsibility to ensure that consumers have the opportunity to exercise free choice in the marketplace without being misled by confusing name changes designed to hide the identity of a controversial ingredient.”

The CRA responded in an emailed statement: “It is a myth that the “corn sugar” petition is designed to conceal the presence of HFCS in foods. In addition to the CRA’s extensive public educational efforts, if FDA grants the petition, there would potentially be a period of co-labeling of the two terms on ingredient labels to further educate consumers.”

The CRA, which represents the interests of the corn refining industry, repeatedly has said that the term ‘high fructose’ is confusing to consumers, because the most commonly used varieties of HFCS are not high in fructose.

“’Corn sugar’ provides more clarity to consumers about the ingredient and would help people watch their overall intake of added sugars, from whatever source,” the CRA said.

However, the consumer groups argue the agency should deny the petition because of the number of comments it has received opposing the alternative name.

“Given the thousands of comments opposing the CRA petition and the continued misleading use of the term ‘corn sugar’ in marketing, FDA should act decisively and deny the CRA petition,” said director of the Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America Chris Waldrop.