National Ads Dispel HFCS Myths

WASHINGTONThe Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) launched a new $1 million ad campaign designed to put an end to the inaccuracies surrounding the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The campaign will communicate to the public what most experts already know, that high fructose corn syrup is nutritionally the same as sweeteners such as table sugar and honey.

People have been spoon-fed misinformation about high fructose corn syrup, said Center for Consumer Freedom Executive Director Rick Berman. We thought it was time someone explained, in no uncertain terms, that high fructose corn syrup has the exact same number of calories as table sugar and is handled the same way by the body. Any non-agenda driven nutrition expert will tell you the same.

The new television commercial, which features actors dressed as an ear of corn, a sugar cube and a honey bear standing in a police lineup, focuses on the fact that high fructose corn syrup has been wrongly accused of contributing to obesity more than other sweeteners. The victim in the commercial is unable to identify the sweetener responsible for making him gain the weight because all three sugars are nutritionally the same.

The commercial will air on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN and CNBC and will run for three weeks. The campaign launch also includes three full-page ads in national newspapers USA TODAY, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, as well as a full-page ad in Crains Chicago Business.