You want to fight obesity, try banning HFCS (high fructose corn syrup)

[Komputernut]

27. Totally agree

Well said...

I just wrote this in the post on banning soda,but I think it applies equally here

Removing choices as a way to prevent harm should only be done in relation to the consequences of the choices. If the result is acute harm (and sugar clearly doesn't cause acute harm) then the cost of having those choices in our society can rightly be deemed unacceptable.

The problem I see is when the gov starts making choices that people should, through education and cultural influence, be making for themselves, I think the result can be an inclination to stop thinking and an expectation that the gov will care for us. We must view education as the best defense against a culture that desires freedom to make bad choices.

To add to the above

The Government definitely needs to get involved. But not through bans...

Ask yourself why corn syrup is so profitable and then you'd be moving in the right direction. If you want industry to consider alternatives, you have to remove built in financial incentives. Corn is big business and is subsidized by government. Remove the subsidy and other sugar alternatives and their prices start to fall back into line.

I'd add that I question HFCS and the allegations that somehow the body processes it differently. I really appreciate some evidence to this claim.

I've been following a particular YouTube user, a man who is a scientist and understands the science and is someone , who at least as far as I'm concerned, is interested in reason, logic and evidence, not hype. He did a piece on HFCS....

Here is his description of the video followed by the link to the video itself. You make the call.

"Let's get the facts straight about the nutritive sweeteners (sugars). I will not defend HFCS; it is just as bad as sucrose or honey or fruit juice. It may even be ever so slightly worse for the following reasons:
1. Industry like to use it.
2. It's a bit cheaper, thanks to US corn policies.
3. We love to eat it.
but the root of the problem is the collision of our biology (we love sweetness) and our economic system (companies will sell what we will buy). What's needed is some self-awareness, some discipline, and some education about health risks.

That's my goal with this video. I'm not here to point the finger of blame. I'm not here to offer scare tactics or corporate apologetics. These are the facts, as well as my take on the issue.

I'm sure I made at least one factual error (not counting my backwards swastikas). First one to spot it will get a $5 donation to MSF made in their name."