How To Make High Fructose Corn Syrup

I'm too damn curious. I want to learn to make everything. I like knowing how everything I eat is made, and I do a lot of that by trying to make it with my own two hands. The more I make something myself, the harder it is to put something that I have no idea how it's made into my body (albeit with lovely packaging) or into the bodies of the people I love...so naturally, I googled "How is High Fructose Corn Syrup Made?"...and the results astounded me. There weren't any.

I can't believe, I can look up any number of ridiculous things and have a myriad of different people anywhere in the world have written or created a how-to video on the subject. No one cares how this ingredient that's in so many products is made? There was this small clip from the documentary film "King Corn" that I found on YouTube. It shows two college friends who attempt to make it at home in their kitchen..but it still doesn't really tell me exactly how I can recreate it myself.



There were a bunch of videos and articles on why High Fructose Corn Syrup isn't good for you, and what kinds of products contain HFCS....but, I wanted to know a recipe for it. How can I buy the ingredients and make it myself? Because if I can't recreate it, or know the actual steps to do it...should I be putting it in my body everyday for the rest of my life?...and why do so many products that you can buy at the grocery store contain it?

When you look at the ingredients in your bread..even the whole grain varieties, does it include "High Fructose Corn Syrup"? Some of the most frequently eaten foods at my house (and a lot of peoples houses) include HFCS on all the grocery store shelves, but:

• When I make bread at home, it only contains 1. yeast 2. flour 3. water...
• If I made soda at home, it would only contain 1. carbonated water 2. fruit juice
• When I eat yogurt, it only consists of 1. plain yogurt 2. whatever I decide to add to it (ie: fruit)
• If I made applesauce it'd be 1. cooked, peeled apples blended..that's it!

I guess I'll have to call a food scientist, to figure it out.

PS. I did find this recipe for how to make your own cane sugar syrup. All sweeteners should be used in moderation, but at least you can feel a little better knowing what the original ingredients were, and that you put them together yourself.

DIY Cane Sugar Syrup
Makes about 1 quart

You will need:

2 cups (16 ounces) water
5 1/3 cups (2 lbs + 10 ounces) granulated cane sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
pinch of salt

Equipment:
4-quart sauce pan - one step larger or smaller should be ok
a candy thermometer that can clip to the side of the pan
stainless steel or silicone spoon - not wood
pastry brush
Clean glass jars with lids - half-pint jars are ideal

See the full recipe.