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Foods Containing Corn Syrup

Corn syrup is cheaper and more convenient for food manufacturers to use than sugar. Most processed foods contain corn syrup. There are two types of corn syrups: high fructose and high maltose. The Mayo Clinic states that high fructose corn syrup (a combination of fructose and glucose) is used as both a sweetener and preservative. High maltose corn syrup is a food additive that “improves shelf life and inhibits fermentation and bacterial growth,” according to CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest).

  1. Processed Fruits

    • Varieties of canned fruit contain high fructose corn syrup. If the fruit is canned in a heavy syrup, the syrup commonly contains this form of sweetener. Fruit cocktails, fruit sauces, individual fruit varieties and fruit parfaits can all contain large amounts of this sweetener, cites the Mayo Clinic. When choosing canned fruit, go for the fruit canned in its own juice to avoid the added corn syrup.

      Fruit that has been processed into pie fillings or ice cream toppings can also contain noticeable amounts of corn syrup. According to nutritiondata.com, a one-cup serving of canned blueberries in heavy syrup can contain an astounding 32,316mg of glucose and 28,778mg of fructose. This amount applies when the canned blueberries have been drained, removing the liquid.

    Canned Vegetables

    • Many food manufacturers add corn syrup to their canned vegetables. Not only does it provide sweetness, it can extend the shelf life of the food. Vegetables with corn syrup as part of the ingredients include sweet potatoes, candied yams, sweet pickles (otherwise known as sweetened cucumbers), creamed corn, carrots, marinated asparagus and pickled beets, cites the USDA.

    Baked Goods

    • Many commercially-prepared baked goods such as breads, fried breads, cornbread, muffins, cupcakes, cheesecakes, bread sticks, cream puffs, cakes, pie shells, pies, pastries, doughnuts, energy bars, croissants and brownies contain corn syrup, according to the USDA. Baked goods can include those prepared for fresh sale and/or frozen for later use.

    Frozen Foods

    • Many foods found in the frozen section of your marketplace contain corn syrup, cites the USDA. These include bread dough, ice cream, Popsicles, frozen yogurt and other dairy alternatives, dinner and/or lunch entrees, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, pizzas, snack items (such as pizza rolls and pretzels) and whipped dairy toppings.

    Yogurts

    • A wide variety of commercially-prepared yogurts contain high fructose corn syrup. Yogurts include individual fruit, fruit-juice flavored, fruit combinations, mousse and other taste variations, cites MensStuff.com. Read the ingredients and you will notice that many yogurts contain corn syrup as their first or second ingredient, which means the product is rich in the sweetener. Most manufacturers add corn syrup to provide sweetness and increase bulk.

    Salad Dressings

    • Since corn syrup is so cheap to use, there are a multitude of salad dressings that contain corn syrup. These include low fat and low sugar versions. Types of salad dressings include vinaigrettes, honey mustard, ranch and Thousand Island. According to nutritiondata.com, a 2tbsp. serving of reduced-fat Thousand Island dressing contains 1,370mg of glucose and 1,035mg of fructose.

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