High Fructose Corn Syrup Consumption Increases Health Risks

September 10, 2026 · GıdaTarım

Amid discussions over the exceeding of starch-based sugar quotas in Turkey, scientific reports have revealed that high fructose corn syrups significantly escalate the risks of pancreatic cancer and metabolic diseases.

Quota Exceedance and Production Differences in the Market

It has been determined that some companies producing starch-based sugars (SBS) in Turkey have illegally supplied products to the market by exceeding legal quotas. While natural beet sugar contains 50% fructose and 50% glucose, the fructose levels in high fructose corn syrups (HFCS) can reach 42%, 55%, and even up to 90%. Beet sugar is naturally crystallized through physical processes, whereas corn-derived syrups are produced through chemical, thermal, and enzymatic interventions and incorporated into industrial foods.

Ministry of Health and Scientific Report Data

An official report dated March 1, 2018, from the Science Board within the Ministry of Health outlines the metabolic risks associated with SBS consumption. According to the report, fructose lays the groundwork for obesity, fatty liver, cardiovascular problems, and gout because it does not trigger insulin release and does not induce a feeling of fullness. A study by Japanese researcher Tomoyoshi Aoyagi and his team, published in the World Journal of Oncology in 2025, also shows that HFCS consumption accelerates chronic inflammation, thereby triggering tumor cell growth.

Increased Consumption and Pancreatic Cancer Risk

When data from 2000 to 2020 across Turkey is examined, the rise in high fructose corn syrup consumption is observed to be parallel to a twofold increase in pancreatic cancer cases. Data presented by health authorities emphasize that excessive fructose intake is a significant trigger for colon, pancreatic, breast, and liver cancers. Experts state that agricultural sugar quota inspections should be tightened, and alongside genetic factors, the effects of industrial sweeteners on health should be comprehensively monitored.

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