What do you MEAN there's nothing wrong with high fructose corn syrup!?

My jaw just about dropped on the floor when I saw this ad this morning.



I'm not the only one who's noticed (qv Slashfood). Yes, as the NY Times points out, the truth is that there is no exact proof that shows HFCS is directly responsible for increasing obesity rates. Larger portion sizes, poorer dietary habits and the cheapness of things with HFCS in them probably play as big a role. But as one doctor on the Mayo Clinic puts it, people aren't freaked out about it for nothing: it is cheaper, longer-lasting and sweeter than sugar and winds up in many things that sugar isn't put in as often. We eat - and drink - more of those things, which are often of very little nutritional value. And unlike sugar, honey, vanilla or even some artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup usually tastes nasty. Plus, it incurs the wrath of some environmental activists (as noted in the Washington Post). So no, that ad by King Corn isn't 100% deceitful - but it's certainly not being truthful to us, either.