CHICAGO—Even though the differences between sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are rooted in perception and not science, major food manufacturers continue to reformulate products—including such high-profile national brands as Gatorade sports drinks and Heinz ketchup—to make the switch.
For many years, HFCS has been the sweetener of choice in products across the board. One reason for this preference has been based in economics. Imported sugar is more expensive than domestically grown corn, the starting raw material for HFCS.
One product category that continues to rely on HFCS is carbonated soda. Notes Indra Nooyi, CEO, PepsiCo, HFCS is “as clean and safe as it comes,” and that this attention paid to replacing it with sugar is “a perception issue.”
However, the company has committed to expanding its “non-junk-food” portfolio of products from $10 billion to $30 billion over the next decade, and will invest “unprecedented resources” into developing natural, calorie-free sweeteners that taste and perform just like full-calorie versions.
