The Government Sweetener

As more and more Americans wake up to the dangers posed by high-fructose corn syrup—promoted by the feds through massive domestic farm subsidies and protectionism against Cuban sugar—the political corn industry wants to change the name of its federal product. There is a massive ad campaign going on now to convince us all it’s just “corn sugar,” and no different in any way from sugar sugar. But cane sugar is the only caloric sweetener that makes any health or taste sense. Just drink a Mexican Coke as versus an American one. And it is great to see Pepsi Throwback, which also uses real sugar. Of course, for non-caloric sweeteners, only stevia and Splenda, not the evil aspartame, make health or taste sense. But how about some stevia or Splenda-sweetened Coke or Pepsi?

UPDATE from Jim Spillane:

Don’t get too excited over the Throwback drinks.  They use GMO beets for their sugar, compliments of our friends at Monsanto .;)

UPDATE from Craig:

When my wife and I went on our honeymoon to Mexico, I couldn’t believe how much better the drinks down there tasted. Sprite and Coca-Cola were light and refreshing, with no syrupy film left on your tongue or sticky aftertaste. I asked and learned the secret was, in fact, cane sugar. I was less than 10 years old when the American drink makers switched from sugar to HFCS. So I didn’t remember what they tasted like before the switch.

Now, the only Coca-Colas I drink, I get from the local Mexican groceries. Not only do they have REAL sugar, but they only come in glass bottles, which also makes for a superior taste. Sure they cost more, but I only drink a couple per week as a treat. I don’t like regular Pepsi, but I do like the Pepsi Throwbacks, and I stock up on them when they are available.

I’m not odd, either; several co-workers have tried and noticed the difference. Americans, like anyone anywhere, prefer natural cane sugar in a side by side comparison with HFCS. It is a testament to the fascist state we live in that corporate corn growers can use the power of the state to severely limit our choice to a product people would not choose naturally.

UPDATE from Tom Luongo:

Coke with Splenda exists, but you’d never know it from the supermarket shelves. Diet-Rite’s sodas are all made with Splenda as well. My wife had to ask the local Winn-Dixie for it, and once she did, they started stocking it regularly. She may be the only one buying it, but at least it’s available to us.For those of us with an unquenchable sweet-tooth, these products are gifts, keeping us from falling off the wagon towards liver and metabolic destruction.

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9:05 am on September 14, 2010