tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post8315736267219150593..comments2024-02-05T05:15:04.759-08:00Comments on Wandering Scientist: A Plea for Equal Opportunity CynicismCloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-91064496451973375012012-02-11T14:10:16.406-08:002012-02-11T14:10:16.406-08:00@anonymous- I'm not an expert in this area, bu...@anonymous- I'm not an expert in this area, but I think the two likely routes are (1) contamination left from the processes used to extract the sugar from corn, and (2) contamination in the corn itself, probably from mercury pollution in the environment. I do not think mercury is used in the extraction of sugar from sugar cane or sugar beets- but I do not known that for sure. However, cane and beets would be susceptible to exposure from environmental pollution, too. I do not know what the relative uptake of mercury of corn, cane, and beets is, though.<br /><br />I've never seen anything to make me think the amounts of mercury found in any food stuff except predator fish is sufficient to concern anyone- but again, this is not my area of expertise.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-3261445008863590362012-02-11T10:37:39.020-08:002012-02-11T10:37:39.020-08:00...but how and why is there any mercury at all in ......but how and why is there any mercury at all in HFCS?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-13988481221671692872009-01-30T11:49:00.000-08:002009-01-30T11:49:00.000-08:00@caramama- Scientists tend to be pretty cynical, t...@caramama- Scientists tend to be pretty cynical, too. I don't know if that is due to the training or if it is a personality trait that tends to push people towards science. Probably both.<BR/><BR/>And any scientist who can't take someone trying to poke holes in his/her data and conclusions got off too easy in grad school. <BR/><BR/>I haven't done the research on HFCS and don't really have an opinion on that yet. I don't really drink soda and I usually try to make my own cookies and similar treats (this slows down my consumption), so I don't think I actually eat much of it. So I haven't worried about it.<BR/><BR/>My personal food safety issue on which I disagree with the regulatory agencies is our (over)use of antibiotics in livestock. This is pretty much the reason I buy organic milk and meat.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-64007947735066571872009-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:002009-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:00I was so glad you commented on Ask Moxie. I didn't...I was so glad you commented on Ask Moxie. I didn't realize how small the amounts were, because you are right in that the report didn't say or compare. <BR/><BR/>I'm the type of person who doesn't believe anything until I triagulate with credible sources (I would say it's my journalism background, but I was like this before I studies journalism). Unfortunately (maybe fortunately), I'm also a huge conspiracy theorist type of person in many things, but my distrust is an equal opportunity distrust until I have corroborating evidence from respectable sources. But this means I distrust the government as much as some watchdog group.<BR/><BR/>I don't like HFCS for multiple other reasons. I've researched HFCS and am comfortable with my decision to cut way back it. But not because of the mercury. Still, no mercury would be better than even detectable amounts.caramamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327695885346537321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-21457093708157140292009-01-29T22:46:00.000-08:002009-01-29T22:46:00.000-08:00I read that there were "detectable amounts" of mer...I read that there were "detectable amounts" of mercury in HFCS. But there is a difference between detectable levels and harmful levels. I wasn't alarmed at all. But, then, I am a scientist.<BR/><BR/>There are lots of good reasons to avoid HFCS, besides mercury.badmomgoodmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11569728075698885020noreply@blogger.com