Our Mission

In the
summer of
2008, the Corn
Refiners Association launched a multimedia advertising and public relations campaign “Changing the Conversation about High Fructose Corn Syrup”—a nutritional and versatile food ingredient that has been the subject of considerable attention and misinformation in recent years. The goal of the campaign is to dispel myths and correct inaccuracies associated with this versatile sweetener and highlight the important role high fructose corn syrup plays in our nation’s foods and beverages. The campaign provides science-based information to consumers to enable them to make informed decisions about their food choices.

Consumer Awareness of High Fructose Corn Syrup

A national survey(1) indicated that the myths associated with high fructose corn syrup have led many consumers to believe that it is different from table sugar. Results from this survey served as the foundation of our campaign to ensure that its messages resonate with consumers and provide accurate, easy-to-understand information.

The survey revealed that two-thirds of household shoppers are aware of high fructose corn syrup, yet they are not aware of the similarities between high fructose corn syrup and table sugar. More than two-thirds of consumers do not know that high fructose corn syrup and table sugar have the same number of calories. Only 19 percent of consumers understand that table sugar and high fructose corn syrup have the same sweetness. And, almost two-thirds of those surveyed do not understand that high fructose corn syrup contains the same simple sugars — glucose and fructose — as table sugar.

1 Survey of 1,610 adults age 18 and older, conducted by The MSR Group, March 28-April 11, 2008, on behalf of the Corn Refi ners Association. The maximum margin of error is +/- 2.4 percent.