This is frightening.
Two new U.S. studies have found levels of mercury in about half of the samples of high-fructose corn syrup that they tested. And in 55 products where high-fructose corn syrup was the first or second ingredient on the nutritional label, nearly a third of them also contained mercury.
This is especially worrisome because high-fructose corn syrup is ubiquitous in foods now. It is in everything, even some things that would surprise you: breads, cereals, salad dressings, soups, lunch meats.
The Washington Post says that on average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons a day of corn syrup -- that's 4 tablespoons a day, and it's 1.75 cups a week. Nearly two cups a week! And teenagers or those who are above the average can consume as much as 80 percent more than that.
Here's the article about the studies:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html
And here's a link to a page about mercury exposure and our health:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mercury/