Viral Health Rumors—Fact or Fiction?

There's Mercury in Candy Bars?

Earlier this year, a study in the journal Environmental Health suggested that the ubiquitous sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury—at levels high enough to possibly create problems for children and pregnant women. (Mercury can interfere with brain development.) The corn syrup industry's trade association responded, saying that the manufacturing process that introduced mercury into HFCS is no longer used. Hold on, said the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; the process is still in use at four plants around the country. Do you have a headache yet?

Here's our advice: Avoid foods that have large amounts of HFCS (look to see if it's among the first four ingredients), but not because you're worried about mercury. Some products may have traces of the metal, but it's probably not enough to worry about, say some food safety experts. The real problem with HFCS is that we get far too much of it—about 40 pounds a year on average. Get less HFCS and your diet will improve overnight. — Nancy Gottesman