Soda contains more fructose than advertised

Thursday, 04 November 2010 09:04

Soda labels often misrepresent the amount of fructose contained in the drink, reveals a new study published in the journal Obesity.

Researchers from the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine purchased 23 different types of soda and sent them to a lab in Massachusetts for analysis. Scientists there used a process known as high-performance liquid chromatography to determine the levels of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in each beverage. Each sample was tested three times.

High-fructose corn syrup is commonly used as a sweetener in soda, juices, and other processed foods, and is often singled out as a major contributing factor in the nation's rising obesity rates. Recently, the Corn Refiners Association, the makers of high-fructose corn syrup, applied to the federal government to change the product's name to corn sugar in order to give it a more positive image. Although the Food and Drug Administration could take up to two years to make a determination, some ads already feature the new name, stating "whether it's corn sugar or cane sugar, your body can't tell the difference. Sugar is sugar."

But sugar isn't sugar, say health advocates. Fructose, which is sweeter than glucose, is dangerous in large quantities. According to pediatric endocrinologist Robert Lustig, glucose prompts the body to store fat and send hunger signals to the brain, causing "a vicious cycle of consumption and disease."

The Los Angeles Times reports that the high-fructose corn syrup used in soda is supposed to contain no more than 55 percent fructose; however, the research by the Keck School of Medicine found that the sweeteners used in Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain as much as 65 percent fructose. The results for Sprite were similar: It contained 64 percent fructose.

"The type of sugar listed on the label is not always consistent with the type of sugar detected," the study reports. "Considering that the average American drinks 50 gallons of soda and other sweetened beverages each year, it is important that we have more precise information regarding what they contain, including a listing of the fructose content."