Warns of Job Losses and Billions in Economic Damage Stemming from Misguided Attacks

Washington, D.C. — The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) released a report today detailing the critical nature of the corn refining industry and its work to support rural economies across the country. The report comes amid suggestions that foods should be considered Ultra-Processed based on the content of certain ingredients or use of production practices, a classification that fails to consider nutritional content.

The report, an independent analysis commissioned by CRA, focuses on the financial implications of displacing High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in the U.S. food supply.

“Any serious policymaker should consider the serious economic and food security consequences of unnecessarily restricting a long-standing, safe ingredient produced by American farmers and workers,” said CRA President and CEO John Bode. “HFCS has been used for decades because it is a safe, functional, and affordable ingredient that keeps food prices stable and supports jobs in rural U.S. communities. Today, as farmers are looking for more local demand options for their harvests, HFCS fuels demand for more than 410 million bushels of American corn each year.”

Bode continued “Efforts to vilify HFCS threaten President Trump’s rural prosperity and trade agendas and ignore the science behind food and nutrition.”

The report outlines the severe consequences of removing HFCS from the domestic food supply:

• Complete elimination of HFCS would slash corn prices by up to $0.34 per bushel, wiping out $5.1 billion in revenue to farms. The resulting economic shockwave would lead to rural job losses and significant economic consequences to communities across the country.
• Broader corn refining demand loss – including HFCS, glucose, dextrose, and starch – could result in short-term losses of $13.9 billion, with long-term damage ranging between $5.2 billion and $7.5 billion annually.
• Even under more moderate assumptions, such as partial export redirection, losses could still reach $4.3 billion.
• Local economies would suffer, especially in regions anchored by corn refineries, where farmers stand to lose $0.25 to $0.50 per bushel in price premiums alone.

High-fructose corn syrup has been a foundational ingredient in the U.S. food supply for nearly half a century, valued for its safety, reliability, and versatility. It meets all regulatory standards and remains a preferred choice for many food and beverage manufacturers due to its affordability, shelf stability, consumer taste preference, and consistent performance. Backed by decades of science, domestically produced HFCS plays a vital role in maintaining both product quality and supply chain strength across the industry.

“HFCS is nutritionally equivalent to sugar and other caloric sweeteners, such as honey, sugar, and agave. Consumed in moderation, caloric sweeteners have a beneficial role to play in the diet. Due to the growing global obesity epidemic, we do not promote increased consumption of HFCS and encourage consumers to limit consumption of caloric sweeteners and other sources of calories,” Bode said.

The full report on the economic impact of removing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from the food supply is available here.

###

About the Corn Refiners Association
The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starch, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein and fiber.