Corn Syrup vs. High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Key Differences Explained

Corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are similar in many ways. Both are both made from corn. Manufacturers add both to foods to texturize, flavor, moisten and improve the appearance of their products. Most people have consumed both corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup at some point in their lives; many people consume both products regularly. Despite these similarities, there are important differences between the two products.

Main Uses of High-Fructose Corn Syrup

• Manufacturers add high fructose corn syrup to food products to make them taste sweeter, even sometimes hamburgers, sausages, and luncheon meat. Manufacturers also add high fructose corn syrup to candy, frozen desserts and especially beverages. High fructose corn syrup is generally used in processed foods with few or no nutrients.

Main Uses of Corn Syrup

• Manufacturers do not necessarily use corn syrup to sweeten foods, but instead use it to give foods a maple, nut, or root beer flavor. Corn syrup is also used for other purposes in a wide variety of food products such as ketchup, chow mien, jellies, and breakfast cereals. It can even be found on the back of envelopes and stamps.

General Health Effects

• Some researchers believe high-fructose corn syrup is unhealthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, high-fructose corn syrup is, in some studies, associated with weight gain, poor tooth health and generally poor nutrition. Researchers have not definitively established that high-fructose corn syrup is less healthy than other comparable sweeteners, such as sugar, however. By contrast, there is no evidence that ordinary corn syrup poses a public health risk.

Labeling

• Both corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup contain natural fructose, but as its name indicates, only the latter contains artificially added fructose. The Food and Drug Administration ruled in 2008 that products containing high fructose corn syrup cannot be marketed as "natural." The Corn Refiners Association vigorously disputes this decision.