Many Kid Foods Contain Mercury in High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Obviously mercury is toxic and no one--especially children--should consume it every day. However that is exactly what we do when we eat food or drink beverages contaminated by mercury in the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). 

The amount of mercury found in HFCS is less than the amount commonly found in most fish and seafood. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) in Minneapolis tested 55 consumer items and found mercury in one third of the samples ranging from 30 to 350 parts per trillion.

HFCS is in a common ingredient in many processed things we eat. And you probably consume more HFCS than you think. According to the WashingtonPost.com

"HFCS has replaced sugar as the sweetener in many beverages and foods such as breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average."

If we know mercury is toxic, how does mercury get into HFCS? The study by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) as reported in the Star Tribune

"concluded that the mercury came from food plants that use caustic soda laced with mercury to produce high fructose corn syrup for major food companies."

FOODS TO AVOID

According to the  Star Tribune many of the foods containing contaminated HFCS are foods that kids love, including

• Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars
• Quaker Oatmeal to go bars
• Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
• Yoplait Strawberry yogurt
• Market Pantry Grape Jelly
• Coca-Cola