Did you know that corn syrup finds its way in the manufacturing of a lot of food condiments? More importantly, high fructose corn syrup is also used in a variety of ways and has many benefits. Now that’s surprising, isn’t it?

But trust us when we say that the benefits and uses of high fructose corn syrup are totally amazing. To know more, keep reading this post!

Would you like to know what they are? Keep reading!

High Fructose Corn Syrup – An Overview:

High fructose corn syrup is commonly used in the food industry as it helps in cutting costs and is one of the most versatile ingredients that is used in the market. It is due to this versatility that it is so widely used in the food and beverage industry.

High fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, is a calorific sweetener that is derived from corn. Its name distinguishes it from regular corn syrup, which has 100% glucose. In the 1970s, researchers found a way to convert the glucose in corn syrup into fructose. It was given the name HFCS55 (1) because it had a fructose content of 55%.

Benefits Of High Fructose Corn Syrup:

High fructose corn syrup has many advantages that include the following:

1. Versatile:

As mentioned earlier, high fructose corn syrup is a highly versatile ingredient. Hence, it is used in a variety of food and beverage products including sauces, soft drinks, ready-to-eat cereals, meat products, condiments and many others. It adds flavor, texture and helps in maintaining quality and color in food products.

2. Adds Value To Food Products:

Another reason high fructose corn syrup is so widely used in the food and beverage industry is it adds value to the products. It is easy to handle, is versatile, and helps save costs, which are real value-adds, for both the industry as well as the consumers.

3. Extends Shelf Life Of The Products:

High fructose corn syrup can inhibit the spoilage caused by microbes in food products (2). It does this by reducing the water activity, and through this moisture control, it extends the shelf life of many products manufactured in the food and beverage industry. It also makes canned fruits taste fresher because it protects their firm texture and decreases freezer burn.

4. Low Freezing Point:

High fructose corn syrup has a low freezing point (3). This makes it easy for consumers to thaw and mix frozen beverage concentrates with water as HFCS makes these products easily pourable straight from the freezer.

As you can see, high fructose corn syrup has many benefits. This is why it makes for an ingredient that is beneficial not only for the food and beverage industry but also for the consumers.

Uses Of High Fructose Corn Syrup:

High fructose corn syrup is used in a number of applications in the food and beverage industry. Due to its versatility, it can be used in a number of ways to benefit both the industry as well as the consumers. Here are the uses of this excellent ingredient:

1. Adding Flavor:

High fructose corn syrup is sweeter than normal corn syrup (4). This sweetness profile enhances the citrus, fruit and spice flavors in many food products such as beverages, sauces, condiments, fruit products and bakery fillings. This is why it is used to add flavor in these products.

2. Adding Texture:

High fructose corn syrup is used to add texture to food products as well. The soft and moist texture of snack bars, cookies, and other baked goods is derived from this excellent ingredient. It gives these foods this texture because it is able to retain moisture and resist the crystallization that occurs after they are baked.

3. For Browning:

High fructose corn syrup acts as an excellent browning agent. This reducing sugar is used in baked goods to make them brown (5). It is due to this ability that it is highly used in the manufacturing of breakfast cereals, breads, cookies, cakes, dinner rolls, etc.

4. Maintaining Freshness:

As you already know, high fructose corn syrup can retain the moisture in food products. This is why it is used in food products. It keeps them fresher for a longer period by inhibiting microbial spoilage.

5. For Stability And Consistency:

High fructose corn syrup is used to provide consistency and stability to food products. This is because it can protect them from variations that occur due to fluctuations in storage temperatures and low product acidity. It has a low freezing point, which makes it excellent for retaining the consistency of food products.

7. For Baking:

As mentioned already, high fructose corn syrup is majorly used in baking because it works as a browning agent. It is also because the sugars in this ingredient ferment quickly and easily. This results in breads that are sweeter and more economical to produce than those made with table sugar.

Effects Of High Fructose Corn Syrup:

According to some scientific journals, there is a link between high fructose corn syrup and the significant rise of obesity across the globe (6). The fructose content, sweetness and satiety value of this ingredient versus that of sucrose are said to be linked to this health condition. However, in 2008, a review of studies on high fructose corn syrup and sucrose concluded that since they are similar in composition, especially when absorbed by the body, it was unlikely that HFCS contributed more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose.

According to experts, HFCS does not have any more side effects than other caloric ingredients such as protein, fats, alcohol and other carbohydrates. If consumed in excess, it can cause weight gain as these other ingredients do. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove that high fructose corn syrup acts in a manner that makes it an exclusive cause of obesity.

High fructose corn syrup is a great ingredient to have in today’s economy. Industries as well as consumers are always looking for a dining experience that is affordable and delicious at the same time. Food products that use this ingredient are cheaper to produce than those with sugar. The costs that are saved start from the manufacturers all the way to the consumers. High fructose corn syrup enables food companies to formulate products so that they can create foods and beverages that appeal to the needs and preferences of consumers all over the world.

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by Maanasi Radhakrishnan via STYLECRAZE