Every semester for many years I would conclude my micro principles class discussing the ill effects of the U.S. government imposing quotas on the importation of sugar. I would point out that the quotas increase the price of sugar for American consumers. Since corn syrup is a substitute for sugar, the increase in the price of sugar will increase the demand for corn syrup.
To support the ill effects of corn syrup, I used to cite a commentary by Michael Waldholz:
In a speech to the International Congress on Obesity last summer, George Bray, a recognized expert on weight gain, said high fructose corn syrup is a “ticking bomb” in our diet because it is more readily converted into fat than other sugars. Unlike other sugars, fructose doesn’t trigger the release of insulin, which controls sugar consumption by telling the brain to send out a feeling of fullness. (Waldholz 2003, p. D3)
It would be interesting to check the current state of the evidence on whether Bray’s claim is true. But if so, then it provides support for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s current initiative against corn syrup, which was discussed in a full-page article in the NYT in December 2024.
Paradoxically, the U.S. government increases the consumption of corn syrup in multiple ways. In my principles classes I pointed out the indirect effect of sugar quotas. The NYT article also points out the subsidies for corn production.
Kennedy wants to ban the use of corn syrup products in federally subsidized school lunches and ban their purchase using federal food stamps. He should also lobby his boss to end federal subsidies for corn production and end the federal quota program on sugar.
The WSJ commentary on corn syrup is:
(Note: the online version of the Waldholz commentary has the same date as the print version and has the title “Let’s Ditch ‘Added Sugar’ From Our Regular Diets.”)
The NYT article on corn syrup is:
(Note: the online version of the NYT article has the date Dec. 10, 2024, and has the title “Kennedy’s War on Corn Syrup Brings a Health Crusade to Trump Country.”)