The Corn Refiner's Association, the trade association for the nation's corn growers, has been waging a public relations battle over high fructose corn syrup, (HCFS) a common sweetener in beverages and prepared foods.  Its most recent effort was to ask FDA to allow the industry to change the product's name from HCFS to "corn sugar," on the theory that HFCS is just another form of natural sugar.  The Sugar Association does not, by the way, agree. 

Regardless, yesterday FDA said no.  Corn syrup and corn sugar are not the same thing so the corn industry can't make the swap.  According to FDA, sugar is "a solid, dried and crystallized food," whereas syrup is an "aqueous solution or liquid food."  FDA recognizes glucose syrup, cane syrup, maple syrup, sorghum syrup and table syrup, but not corn syrup.  Read FDA's full response here.

So it's back to the drawing board for the corn industry.  Stay tuned to this channel for the next episode of the Sugar Wars.