Sugar, Honey & HFCS

What are caloric (nutritive) sweeteners?

There are many caloric (nutritive) sweeteners like:

• table sugar
• honey
• high fructose corn syrup
• fruit juice concentrates
• glucose
• evaporated cane juice
• hydrolyzed cane juice
• fructose
• dextrose
• invert sugar

How do sugar, honey and high fructose corn syrup compare in terms of calories?

Table sugar, honey and high fructose corn syrup all have 4 calories per gram. (2)

How many calories in a teaspoon of sugar?

A teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories. (2)

Is there a difference between sugar produced from sugar beets or sugar cane?

No. Sugar — whether it's made from beet or cane — is 100% sucrose, a disaccharide of equal parts fructose and glucose. (6)

Is honey healthier than sugar or high fructose corn syrup?

No. All caloric (nutritive) sweeteners are carbohydrates that provide energy our bodies need. Honey also contain proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, but since all of these compounds together make up less than 0.5% of honey, you would have to consume vast quantities to gain this additional nutritional value. (2)

Is high fructose corn syrup sweeter than sugar?

No. High fructose corn syrup is not sweeter than sugar. When high fructose corn syrup was created it was specifically formulated to provide sweetness equivalent to sucrose (table sugar). In order for food and beverage makers to use high fructose corn syrup in place of sucrose, it was important that it provide the same level of sweetness as sucrose so that consumers would not perceive a difference in product sweetness and taste. (7)

What’s the difference between fructose, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup?

The terms fructose, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably. They have widely different compositions and perform distinctly different functions in foods and beverages. Fructose is a simple sugar commonly found in sugar, fruits and honey. Corn syrup, which is entirely glucose-based, is used as a non-sweet thickener. High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that's made of nearly equal portions of fructose and glucose. (7)

Does high fructose corn syrup have a lot of fructose in it?

High fructose corn syrup got its name from the fact that it is high in fructose relative to corn syrup. However, high fructose corn syrup has approximately the same amount of fructose as that found in sugar or honey. (7)

Is high fructose corn syrup metabolized differently than other sweeteners?

No. The myth that high fructose corn syrup is metabolized differently than other caloric (nutritive) sweeteners is based on studies that looked at pure fructose, not the mixture of fructose and glucose found in high fructose corn syrup. The most recent metabolic research published in the February 2007 edition of Nutrition found “no differences in the metabolic effects” of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose on circulating levels of glucose, leptin, insulin and ghrelin in a study group of lean women. (8)

Why did food and beverage manufacturers switch from sugar to high fructose corn syrup to sweeten products?

High fructose corn syrup has gained a prominent position in the U.S. food industry for many reasons: it is stable in acid systems (sucrose is not), providing sweetness and flavor stability lacking in sugar in similar circumstances; it inhibits microbial spoilage by reducing water activity and extends shelf life through superior moisture control; it helps canned foods taste fresher; and it is easy to transport and incorporate into recipes. While price may have been a factor in food manufacturers' choice in sweeteners more than 20 years ago, U.S. food manufacturers' continued use of high fructose corn syrup is based on the benefits it provides rather than its price relative to sugar. (7)