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In North America, most non-diet soft drinks are sweetened with either sucrose (table sugar), high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or a mixture of the two. Sucrose is made from sugar cane or sugar beets. HFCS is a liquid sweetener which is similar to sucrose in chemical composition, calories and sweetness, but is made from corn. HFCS is used in products ranging from cereals and beverages to meat products and condiments. While sucrose is the most common sweetener used in foods and beverages in North America, HFCS is a popular nutritive sweetener as well.

History

Developed in the 1950s, HFCS became commercially available as a liquid replacement for sucrose beginning in the 1970s. The transition from using sucrose as a sweetener to using HFCS continued to take place through the 1980s. 

Ingredients

The name is really a misnomer. HFCS is not fructose nor is it high in fructose. HFCS is simply a liquid sweetener made from corn with a similar composition to sucrose (table sugar). In fact, sucrose is made up of the two simple sugars, glucose and fructose, in equal amounts. Like sucrose, HFCS also is composed primarily of glucose and fructose, with trace amounts of some other simple sugars. Further, absorption and metabolism of HFCS are also similar to that of sucrose.

Comparison of Sweetener Compositions

HFCS is a safe ingredient found in most non-diet soft drinks, ready-to-drink teas, juice drinks, sports drinks and other non-diet sweetened beverages. It is also a key sweetening ingredient in many food products. HFCS is used in the manufacturing process because of its ability to easily mix together with other food and beverage ingredients. In addition to providing sweetness, HFCS is attractive to food and beverage products because it provides texture and acts as a preservative.

Role in a Balanced Diet

The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to consume a variety of foods and beverages in moderation and get regular exercise or physical activity. All beverages, including refreshment beverages, can fit in a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Calories

HFCS has the same calories as sucrose (table sugar)—approximately 4 kilocalories per gram.