SEVERE — -15 pts

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Flags: F-O01, D-R06

Also known as: HFCS, HFCS-55, HFCS-42, Glucose-fructose syrup, Isoglucose

Kids Food & SnacksKids Beverages

What it is

HFCS is a liquid sweetener made from corn starch through enzymatic processing that converts glucose to fructose. HFCS-55 (55% fructose) is used in beverages, while HFCS-42 is used in baked goods and processed foods. It became the dominant sweetener in US beverages in the 1980s due to lower cost than sucrose.

SEVERE in beverages / CAUTION in food

In beverages (SEVERE): liquid fructose absorbs faster than in solid food, and AAP identifies sugar-sweetened beverages as the number one source of added sugar in children's diets. In food (CAUTION): HFCS is linked to childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome, with emerging evidence of metabolic effects beyond those of equivalent sucrose.

Why it matters

Childhood obesity: sugar-sweetened beverages are the single largest source of added sugar in children's diets (AAP)
Metabolic syndrome: associated with insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides, and fatty liver disease in children
Faster fructose absorption in liquid form bypasses normal satiety signals
Dental caries: primary contributor to tooth decay in children
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increasingly diagnosed in children with high SSB consumption

The research

Food Additives and Child Health (AAP Policy Statement)

Trasande L, Shaffer RM, Sathyanarayana S. Pediatrics, 2018. 142(2):e20181408 PMID: 30037975 [Source]

"AAP identified added sugars including HFCS as a major concern for child health, linking consumption to obesity and metabolic disease"

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Children's Health

Bleich SN, Vercammen KA. Annual Review of Public Health, 2018. 39:95-112 PMID: 29220204 [Source]

"Comprehensive review establishing dose-dependent relationship between SSB consumption and childhood obesity, dental caries, and metabolic disease"

Who should care most

All children, particularly those consuming sugar-sweetened beverages daily. Risk is highest in children ages 2-18 who exceed the AAP recommendation of less than 25g added sugar per day.

How other countries handle it

Country	Status
United States	Permitted. No restrictions. FDA classifies as GRAS.
European Union	Permitted but historically subject to production quotas (EU sugar regime, ended 2017). Not banned.
Canada	Permitted. Labeled as 'glucose-fructose' on ingredient lists.
Australia	Permitted. Uncommon due to local sugar cane availability.

Sources

Food Additives and Child Health (AAP Policy Statement). Trasande L, Shaffer RM, Sathyanarayana S. Pediatrics, 2018. 142(2):e20181408. PubMed 30037975
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Children's Health. Bleich SN, Vercammen KA. Annual Review of Public Health, 2018. 39:95-112. PubMed 29220204

For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Consult your pediatrician. Data current as of March 24, 2026.