High-Fructose Corn Syrup
A cheap liquid sweetener made from corn starch, linked to obesity and metabolic disease when over-consumed.
HFCS is corn syrup enzymatically processed to convert some glucose into fructose, producing a very sweet, cheap sugar used across sodas, sauces and baked goods.
High intake is strongly associated with weight gain, fatty liver, insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. The near-ubiquity of HFCS in ultra-processed food makes over-consumption easy.
A red flag — a product built around HFCS is usually one to limit or avoid.
4 analyzed products
This is another added sugar. Metabolically it is similar to sugar, but its presence alongside sucrose increases total sugar content. High intakes of fructose are linked to fatty liver and metabolic problems.
A concentrated source of added sugar that adds calories without nutrients. High intake is linked to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and tooth decay. Many countries use sucrose instead, with similar effects.
This is the main source of calories and added sugar. High intake of sugary drinks is linked to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and tooth decay.
It is a refined added sweetener that adds calories without nutrients, and high intake of added sugars is linked to weight gain and metabolic problems. It is not uniquely worse than table sugar, but sweetening a savory soup with it is unnecessary.