The CRA, backed by food giants such as Archer Daniels-Midland,
argued that consumers were confused by the name "high fructose corn
syrup." Some consumers incorrectly believe that HFCS is
significantly higher in calories, fructose and sweetness than
sugar, the group said in its petition, filed in September
2010.
The group even took to the airwaves, running an ad campaign by
Omnicom's DDB, Chicago, that included TV spots featuring parents
walking through cornfields declaring that whether corn sugar or
cane sugar, "your body can't tell the difference."
"The simpler the message, the easier to remember," Ms. Erickson
told Ad Age at the time. "Sugar is sugar."
The debate even became part of pop culture, with "Saturday Night
Live" spoofing the ads last year in a skit featuring two
moms fighting over the issue. "SNL" comes down on the sugar side,
with the kicker showing the corn supporter's kid, who is , um, a
little bit too big for her age.
The campaign set off more than a year of litigation initiated by
U.S. sugar farmers and refiners, who have tried to stop the CRA's
campaign.
"The FDA's ruling represents a victory for American consumers,"
said Dan Callister, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the
continuing litigation, in a statement. "It reaffirms what most
consumer advocates, health experts and policy officials have been
saying all along: Only sugar is sugar. HFCS is not sugar. The next
step is for the federal court to end the CRA's misleading
propaganda campaign."
Ms. Erickson said in a statement the petition was denied on
"narrow, technical grounds" and the FDA did not question the
group's position that HFCS is a form of sugar and nutritionally the
same as other sugars.
"The fact remains -- which FDA did not challenge -- that the
vast majority of American consumers are confused about HFCS," Ms.
Erickson said. "Consumers have the right to know what is in their
foods and beverages in simple, clear language that enables them to
make well-informed dietary decisions. In light of the FDA's
technical decision, it is important to note that the agency
continues to consider HFCS as a form of added sugar, and requires
that it be identified to consumers in the category of sugars on the
Nutrition Fact Panel on foods and beverages."