High-fructose corn syrup out of Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup, latest brand to drop sweetener
By APMonday, May 17, 2010
High-fructose corn syrup cut from Hunt’s recipe
OMAHA, Neb. — ConAgra Foods Inc. has removed high fructose corn syrup from its Hunt’s brand ketchup.
Shoppers have been shying away from high-fructose corn syrup due to health concerns, and it was consumer demand that drove the changes, said Hunt’s brand manager Ryan Toreson.
Hunt’s is the latest brand to make the shift.
PepsiCo Inc. removed all high-fructose corn syrup from sports drink Gatorade and replaced it with cane sugar.
Some nutritionists cite the syrup as part of the country’s obesity problem, though industry scientists and many dietitians say it is no more fattening than sugar.
Corn syrup is popular with manufacturers partly because it is cheaper than sugar.
Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup has five ingredients: tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, salt and other seasonings, the company said.
The products should be on all store shelves by the middle of this month.
The price has not changed, the company said.
ConAgra Foods, based in Omaha, Neb., makes brands such as Chef Boyardee, Hebrew National and Peter Pan.
