The product is General Mills’ Vanilla Chex, an updated version of the Chex cereal sold in most conventional grocery and discount stores for many years. The front of the box clearly states that the product contains “no high fructose corn syrup” (HFCS), but turn it over to read the ingredient list and there it is – the new isolated fructose. Why is that a problem?
According to the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), there’s been a sneaky name change. The term ‘fructose’ is now being used to denote a product that was previously known as HFCS-90, meaning it is 90 percent pure fructose. Compare this to what is termed ‘regular’ HFCS, which contains either 42 or 55 percent fructose, and you will know why General Mills is so eager to keep you in the dark.
What was once called “High Fructose Corn Syrup” is now simply being called “Fructose“. Whatever its name, the thing is just awful for you and should be avoided. Look for sodas that are sweetened with “cane sugar”, “stevia” or “Grade B Maple Syrup” – and stay away from pretty much every other sweetener.
