Fructose Syrup

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a common type of added sugar that is used in packaged foods and beverages. Sugars are added to foods for a variety of reasons, one of which is to provide sweetness—HFCS is equal to the sweetness of sucrose. Glucose-fructose syrups are used in many different food and beverages, mainly for their sweetening power (like sucrose), but also for additional useful properties such as taste, glossiness, improved stability and a longer shelf-life for the food products to which they are added. Fructose is a type of sugar known as a monosaccharide. Like other sugars, fructose provides four calories per gram. Fructose is also known as “fruit sugar” because it primarily occurs naturally in many fruits. It also occurs naturally in other plant foods such as honey, sugar beets, sugar cane and vegetables.