High Fructose Corn Poison and the FDA, the Watchdog for YOUR Health!

I think that in the past, having been a food manufacturer myself, I understand the importance of containing costs; striving to get the ingredients needed at the lowest costs possible.  It is basic business economics, if you are selling a product that is the same or similar to your competitors, if your costs  are lower, your profit is higher.  Makes sense, right?  Of course it does, but the problem comes with a basic caveat, if the cheaper ingredients come with a pedigree that is questionable, possibly poisonous, is it right for the company to use those ingredients and then present their products to the public?  I personally don't think so.  In fact, I personally believe that companies that use ingredients that are proven to be carcinogenic, contain mercury contamination, promote obesity and all the associated medical problems; should be held liable for their choice to make more money at the exclusion of the health of their customers, the public.  It is pretty simple, greed should be punished.

The real travesty here though is that all of what I am going to tell you about could have been prevented.  The FDA was made aware of the mercury contamination years ago, and did nothing.  The opportunity was given to the Federal agency to DO WHAT IS MANDATED TO DO!  Stop production of HFCS, recall all products made with the contaminated product, and keep the American public from exposure and consumption of Mercury.  The USDA, the EPA and Dept of Energy, all list Mercury as a Class 1 neurotoxin, one that is cumulative, and unfortunately, widespread.  And yes, the great and all powerful FDA also categorize Mercury the same way.  They give advisories to limit consumption of fish that may contain Mercury.  The FDA however, chose not to say one single word about the Mercury contamination POSITIVELY found in the manufacturing processes in making High Fructose Corn Syrup.  In 2005  a very public study was published identifying not only Mercury in HFCS but also in 45% of the products plucked from store shelves.  Source  

Mercury poisoning is not something to trivialize.  It is VERY serious.  The fact that the stuff is cumulative makes it even more serious.  Anyone that consumes large amounts of high on the food chain fish like Blue Fin Tuna, Shark, whales, Swordfish etc, are at higher risk of degenerative CNS problems.  Now, innocuous everyday foodstuffs and drinks are tainted with Mercury.  It is no longer a problem of a few upper class people that are able to afford to eat the fish species most at risk; it is now a problem for every person in America.  Some of the problems associated with  cumulative Mercury poisoning are:

irritability

anxiety/nervousness, often with difficulty in breathing

restlessness

exaggerated response to stimulation

fearfulness

emotional instability
-lack of self control
-fits of anger, with violent, irrational behavior

loss of self confidence

indecision

shyness or timidity, being easily embarrassed

inability to concentrate

lethargy/drowsiness

insomnia

mental depression, despondency

withdrawal

suicidal tendencies

manic depression

Unless I am mistaken, these are many of the symptoms that teachers complain that they deal with daily in their jobs teaching American youths.  Let's remember that Mercury poisoning is cumulative.  What you take in today, is always there, along with you take in tomorrow, and the day after and the day after that.  Anyone drinking soft drinks made with HFCS, eating processed foods made with HFCS, sports drinks, poptarts, jelly, cookies, Twinkies, some canned soups, candies, cakes, ice creams, well, just about every processed food out there.  They are getting tiny doses of Mercury.  And that stuff stays in your brain, and the stuff you ate yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.   All from drinking coke, pepsi, mountain dew, and eating foods that the FDA could have saved you from, yet didn't. 

The overall question is who is liable? And now, seven years after the initial report has anything been done to stop further contamination?  Not that I could find.

The world is a complex place, and it should be simple.  I try to do what I can to limit my intake of toxins, the problem is that there are so many of them out there.  Money is the driving force for allowing poisons into our food supply, the revolving door between the FDA and private agribusiness and tech companies shows the willingness of those entrusted to protect and safeguard the American food supply to put their mandate ahead of personal gains.