FDA Says Ya Know What? High-Fructose Corn Syrup Ain't Corn Sugar

FDA Says Ya Know What? High-Fructose Corn Syrup Ain't Corn Sugar:


Dealing what is surely a might blow to proponents of those in the corn industry, the Food and Drug Administration denied the Corn Refiners Association's petition today to allow for high-fructose corn syrup to be renamed "corn sugar." The FDA laid it all out in the form of a letter to the group's president, Audrae Erickson.

In the letter dated May 30, 2010 and titled "Response to Petition from Corn Refiners Association to Authorize "Corn Sugar" as an Alternate Common or Usual Name for High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)" Michael Landa, Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition explains the reasons why the Sept. 14, 2010 petition is being denied.

We picked out some of the pertinent parts below:

As explained below, your petition does not provide sufficient grounds for the agency to authorize "corn sugar" as an alternate common or usual name for HFCS.

First, you contend consumers are confused by the name "high fructose corn syrup" and that the proposed alternate name "corn sugar" more closely reflects consumer expectations and more accurately describes the basic nature of HFCS and its characterizing properties.

This is based on consumers' perception of HFCS that it's higher in calories, fructose and sweetness than sugar, and that "corn sugar" is more accurate as to how the common folk see it, among other reasons, according to the CRA.

Too bad, says the FDA.

However, FDA's regulatory approach for the nomenclature of sugar and syrups is that sugar is a solid, dried, and crystallized food; whereas syrup is an aqueous solution or liquid food.

Then the FDA goes all chemistry, explaining different kinds of dextroses and such. Basically, that all isn't going to fly with the FDA, as corn sugar would imply that HFCS isn't what it is, which is that "aqueous solution sweetener."

Here's where our brains went a bit fuzzy with the rest of the reasoning, but it all boils down to the fact that according to the government, high-fructose corn syrup just ain't corn sugar.

Response to Petition from Corn Refiners Association to Authorize "Corn Sugar" as an Alternate Common or Usual Name for High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) [FDA.gov]

Target Claims Tech Exec Created His Own Bar Codes To Buy LEGOs On The Cheap

Target Claims Tech Exec Created His Own Bar Codes To Buy LEGOs On The Cheap:


You're never too old for LEGOs! But it is possible to take those beloved brightly colored building blocks to a bad place where you're resorting to crime in the pursuit of said toy. Millionaire tech executive Thomas Langenbach has been arrested for allegedly creating bar codes and using them to buy LEGOs at Target for his own special discounted price, and then selling them.

Langenbach lists himself on LinkedIn as a vice president at Palos Altos, Calif. software giant SAP Labs Integration and Certification Center, reports NBC Bay Area. He's been arrested in an the odd scheme involving the purchase of LEGO toys, after he was discovered because Target was keeping its eye on LEGO sales.

Authorities allege he'd make his own bar code stickers, switch the tags at the store and then cash out for steep discounts. The police say he was caught on Target's security camera performing the bar code switcheroo, after the store had already been watching LEGO sales.

When police searched his multi-million dollar home, cops found hundreds of boxes of LEGOs stashed away. A deeper look into Langenbach unearthed an alleged sale of around 2,100 LEGO items since last April totaling about $30,000. There were also reportedly 32 pre-made barcode stickers in Langenbach's car.

"This probably happens more often than you'd think," said Mountain View police spokeswoman Liz Wylie. "But this is the first time we've ever had a case like this," adding that LEGOs are "very popular and expensive."

She only charged him with four burglaries totaling a worth of $1,000, while investigators try to figure out which items were likely stolen and which are legitimately his.

And, lest you doubt that, NBC Bay Area notes that a similar crime occurred in 2005, when a man was arrested in connection with using switched out bar code labels on LEGO boxes at Target. Very familiar, indeed.

*Thanks for the tip, Kendrick!

VP of Palo Alto's SAP Arrested in LEGO Bar Code Scam [NBC Bay Area]

Arkansas Court Tells Ticketmaster It Is Bound By Anti-Scalping Laws

Arkansas Court Tells Ticketmaster It Is Bound By Anti-Scalping Laws:


The Arkansas Supreme Court has issued a legal kick to the gut of the fee-happy folks at Ticketmaster and Live Nation, confirming that the ticket seller is bound by the same state laws that prevent scalpers from piling on fees and charging exorbitant prices.

Ticketmaster is the subject of a lawsuit brought by an Arkansas man who says the $49 in fees -- on top of the $42.75/ticket -- he paid for four tickets to a concert by country singer Jason Aldean violated the provision of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act that forbids the sale of tickets above their face value plus reasonable credit card or handling fees.

The perennial Worst Company In America contender argued that the law is intended to regulate scalpers, and not licensed ticket sellers like Ticketmaster.

The lower court ruled last month that the Act does apply to Ticketmaster, but the matter was booted up to the state Supreme Court for confirmation. There, the panel split 4-3 against Ticketmaster's petition.

The Supreme Court's ruling, issued without comment, only confirms its position that licensed ticketing agents are bound by the Act. It does not necessarily mean that the court believes the plaintiff's claims that Ticketmaster violated the Act. The lawsuit is still pending.

Court won't reconsider Ticketmaster ruling [ArkansasNews.com]

Arkansas Supreme Court won't rehear Ticketmaster suit [AP]

Thanks to Augustus for the tip!