HHS Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s The promise to ban high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and seed oil has reportedly caused concern among corn growers, especially in key Trump-supporting areas like western Ohio.
Corn farming in the region is a major industry, with a large portion of the crop used to produce high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a sweetener widely found in processed foods, according to The Guardian.
Kennedy, elected by the president-elect Donald Trump As secretary of Health and Human Services, he has been outspoken about his desire to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons, which he has linked to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
About 8% of corn in the United States is used to produce HFCS, and farmers worry that any diversion from this market could severely impact their incomes.
Experts estimate that if a ban is implemented, up to 1.4 billion bushels of corn could be displaced, causing prices to potentially fall.
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However, the report adds that while concerns are real, many farmers in Ohio’s Darke and Shelby counties, where Trump enjoys strong support, are taking a “wait and see” approach.
The American Corn Refiners Association, which represents major agricultural businesses, declined to comment on the potential impact of Kennedy’s stance.
Meanwhile, the Guardian adds, some farmers, such as Dan Kelly from Illinois, are more focused on external factors such as global competition and trade tariffs than on Kennedy’s health policies.
Despite Kennedy’s outspoken views on food reform, experts don’t expect immediate changes in the HFCS market.
Although corn and seed crops are an important part of U.S. agriculture, demand for high fructose corn syrup has dropped by nearly 50% since 1999.
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