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NATURALLY Speaking
By Christopher C. Barr Call me a prophet Corn syrup was indicted this past weekend as a primary culprit responsible for the epidemic of obesity and diabetes sweeping the nation over the course of the last 20 years. This pronouncement did not come from a group of "health food nuts" or "food faddists". Medical doctors in conjunction with Harvard University and The U. S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) came to this conclusion as part of a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Dietary consumption data from The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and CDC was examined for the last 100 years. It was discovered that carbohydrate consumption has increased by more than 400 calories over the last quarter of a century. That parallels the rise of corn syrup as a staple. The increase in corn syrup over that time has also been more than 400 calories. Coincidence? The doctors of this new study didn't think so. Neither do I. D�j� vu More than a month ago one of myeditors sent me a government press release about alleged unfair trading practices by Mexico regarding corn syrup. Sodas containing corn syrup have high taxes applied by the Mexican government that sodas containing only cane sugar do not. Almost all American sodas contain corn syrup while Mexican sodas do not. The editor asked me if corn syrup was as bad for health as white sugar. "Corn syrup is WORSE for us than sugar," I replied. Continuing, I noted my belief that the motive of the Mexican government was more likely one of unfair trade practices. However, I also noted that, "discouraging corn syrup is good for their people".All of this more than a month before last weekend's "breaking news". Much deeper d�j� vu It was more than interesting to me that all this came only days after submitting my article on Dr. Harvey Wiley, M.D (FDA's new anti-obesity strategy would not please agency's 'founder', 3/17/04). Dr. Wiley, allegedly revered by the FDA as the supposed "father of the FDA", left the USDA in disgust due to their favoritism to corporate food giants over the health of the people of the nation. Wiley went to 'Good Housekeeping' magazine as a private citizen where he instituted the 'Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval'. As a private citizen, Wiley campaigned against the introduction of this new "corn syrup" creation that was being pushed by the USDA in the 1920s. He almost single handedly prevented it from entering the marketplace for as long as he lived up until 1930 at age 86. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," is a famous quote that comes to mind. Oh, yeah, can you guess who created this monstrous "corn syrup" product? Your fiendly, er, uh, I mean friendly uncle � Uncle Sam. That's right folks, the United States government in the laboratories of the USDA is the one that came up with "corn syrup". Just call me a prophet for your own best interests. Just call the food processing giants of America profiteers for their own best interests. (This was last week's column.) Christopher C. Barr writes Naturally Speaking from Arkansas: The Natural State � naturally! You may write him at P. O. Box 1147, Pocahontas, Arkansas 72455 or by e-mail at servant[EMAIL PROTECTED].. |
