High Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury

Just published in the Environmental Health journal is a science commentary reporting that mercury was found in 9 of 20 samples of commercial high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a common sweetener of foods and beverages.

Mercury is a potent brain toxin that we know accumulates in fish and seafood, although diet is not the only route by which we are exposed. When babies are exposed to elevated mercury in the womb, their brains may develop abnormally, impairing learning abilities and reducing IQ. For these youngest children, the science increasingly suggests there may be no “safe” level of exposure to mercury.

And yet for decades an increasingly common ingredient in processed foods, HFCS, has been made using mercury-grade caustic soda. The lead author of the Environmental Health study found mercury contamination in some commercial HFCS, which can be made from mercury-grade caustic soda.

Through this public scientist’s initiative, the FDA learned that commercial HFCS was contaminated with mercury. The agency has apparently done nothing to inform consumers of this fact, however, or to help change industry practice.

Mercury was found at levels several times higher than the lowest detectable limits in some snack bars, barbecue sauce, sloppy joe mix, yogurt and chocolate syrup. Although closer to the detection limit, elevated mercury levels were also found in some soda pop, strawberry jelly, catsup and chocolate milk. The top mercury detections are summarized in the table below.

Product Name	Total Mercury ppt (parts per trillion)
Quaker Oatmeal to Go	350
Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce (Heinz)	300
Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup	257
Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce	200
Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars	180
Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe	150
Market Pantry Grape Jelly	130
Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly	100
Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry	100
Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup	87
Wish-Bone Western Sweet & Smooth Dressing	72
Coca-Cola Classic	62
Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt	60
Minute Maid Berry Punch	40
Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink	30
Nesquik Chocolate Milk	30
Kemps Fat Free Chocolate Milk	30

References:
1. David Wallinga, M.D., Janelle Sorensen, Pooja Mottl, Brian Yablon, M.D. Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.