What Are the Benefits of High Fructose Corn Syrup?
High fructose corn syrup is made from corn starch. According to the Corn Refiners Association, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) offers many benefits. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sweetness and Flavor
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HFCS is a combination of enzymatically-processed fructose and glucose syrup derived from corn. It can replace sugar in most foods without altering the sweetness. HFCS also intensifies the flavors of fruit, citrus and spices in baked goods.
Food Preservative
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HFCS allows foods containing it to retain moisture longer and prevents spoilage. It increases the shelf life of processed baked goods. HFCS also retains the firmness of some canned fruits.
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Moist Texture
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HFCS helps chewy snacks such as granola bars, candies and pastries retain their soft texture and prevents staleness.
Flavor Stability
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HFCS maintains the flavor and sweetness of baked items. HFCS acts as a stabilizing agent for the taste and freshness of carbonated soda, non-carbonated drinks and condiments.
Low Freezing Point
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HFCS is a primary ingredient in frozen fruit juice concentrates. Its low freezing point allows them to be pourable straight from the freezer and easier to be mixed with water.
Consumer Warnings
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HFCS is added to many foods, even ones that are not noticeably sweet, such as Campbell's Tomato Soup. Nutritionists recommend reading food labels for the presence of HFCS and limiting consumption to prevent obesity.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Fotolia.com, courtesy of Mikhail Olykainen
