Killing Them Sweetly

In a recent study by Princeton University, corn syrup fed to lab rats has demonstrated that not all sweetners are created equal.

"In the 40 years since the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup as a cost-effective sweetener in the American diet, rates of obesity in the U.S. have skyrocketed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1970, around 15 percent of the U.S. population met the definition for obesity; today, roughly one-third of the American adults are considered obese, the CDC reported. High-fructose corn syrup is found in a wide range of foods and beverages, including fruit juice, soda, cereal, bread, yogurt, ketchup and mayonnaise. On average, Americans consume 60 pounds of the sweetener per person every year."

They also go on to say that the molecular structure of corn syrup combined with the manufacturing process sends the corn syrup directly to body fat instead of being metabolized as a carbohydrate, even when you compare corn syrup to other sugars. The study also reveals that corn syrup contributes to higher triglicerides.

"These rats aren't just getting fat; they're demonstrating characteristics of obesity, including substantial increases in abdominal fat and circulating triglycerides," said Princeton graduate student Miriam Bocarsly. "In humans, these same characteristics are known risk factors for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer and diabetes."

According to Amy Attas, V.M.D of Webvet, 44% of dogs in this country are considered overweight, including 10% that were obese. This is seen as a rising problem with many contributors. We've all heard this for some time. Now check out this list. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, nor did I exhaustively include all ingredient statements:

• Sunshine Mills Pup Corn Dog Snacks - Corn flour, wheat flour, natural chicken flavor, powdered cellulose, chicken, canola oil, dried cheese product, mono and di-gylcerides, corn syrup, yellow #6, lecithin.
• Dr. Fosters and Smith, Tasty Snacks® Chewy Dog Treats - Wheat flour, corn gluten meal, corn, wheat, corn flour, soybean meal, corn syrup, propylene glycol, glycerin, beef
• Bil-Jac Little Jacs Liver Treats - Chicken Liver, Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Glycerin, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Wheat Flour, Propylene Glycol
• Claudia’s Canine Cuisine Hearts and Bones Dog Cookie Treats - Wheat flour, corn syrup, honey, palm oil, peanut butter, vanilla, yogurt, red #3
• Bit-O-Luv Bistro Beef Recipe Dog Treats - Beef, chicken, dextrose, water, corn syrup, soy protein isolate, natural smoke flavor, salt, potassium sorbate (preservative), paprika oleoresin, and sodium nitrite (preservative).
• Espre Pet Gourmet Treats - Wheat flour, corn syrup, palm oil, honey, yogurt, vanilla, Yellow #5 Lake, Blue #1 Lake, Red #40 Lake, Yellow #6 Lake
• Jerky Treats - Beef, wheat flour, soy flour, wheat middlings, corn syrup, sugar, corn starch, wheat gluten, propylene glycol
• Chewy Louie Mini Chewy Burger Dog Treats - Beef, corn syrup, beef meal, soy flour, textured soy protein product, sugar, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
• Greenies Pill Pockets - Chicken, glycerin, wheat flour, vegetable oil, dried corn syrup, wheat gluten
• Purina Snausages Beef Flavor - Wheat flour, beef, soy, corn syrup
• Pup-Peroni Naw Somes Dog Snacks - Wheat flour, pregelatinized wheat flour, sugar, fructose, corn syrup, water, glycerine, beef, dried cheese product
• JB Pets Every Flavor Treats - Beef, Wheat Flour, Soy Flour, Corn Syrup, Glycerin
• Ginger Ridge Puppy Mints - wheat flour, beet molasses, corn syrup, vegetable oil, sea salt, peppermint extract and natural colors
• Lean Treats Nutritional Rewards - Skinless Chicken, Chicken Liver, Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Wheat Flour
• AKC Puppy Training Treats - beef liver, wheat flour, beef, corn starch, corn syrup, rice flour, beef tallow, propylene Glycol, dextrose
• Mouthful's Lickin Logs - Beef, Ground Whole Wheat, Wheat Flour, Soy Grits, Corn Syrup
• Barkworth Gourmet Valentine Dog Cookies - Wheat flour, palm oil, corn syrup, honey, vanilla, peanut butter, yogurt, Red #40 Lake
• Zuke's Beef Hip Action Dog Treats - Beef, Durum wheat flour, Fructose corn syrup, Gelatin, Beet Molasses, Glycerin
• Windmill Cookies - Gourmet Dog Treats - Wheat Flour, Sugar, Vegetable Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural form of Vitamin E), Corn Syrup, Caramel Color
• PETCO Treat Bar Natural Low-Fat Vanilla Pretzels - Unbleached flour, glucose, vegetable shortening, corn syrup, water, vanilla flavor, baking soda and lecithin
• PETCO Jerky Strips Treats For Dogs - Beef, Wheat Flour, Soybean Meal, Corn Syrup, Ground Wheat, Soy Flour, Gelatin, Animal Fat
• Red Barn Mini Chewy Burger Dog Treats - Beef, corn syrup, beef meal, soy flour, textured soy protein product, sugar, poultry fat
• Canine Carry Outs Bac'n Bites Chewy Dog Treats - Wheat flour, soybean flour, water, beef, glycerin, corn, sugar, bacon, corn syrup, natural smoke flavor, bone phosphate

OK - that's not all of them, but that is a pretty big list. I found it very interesting that Bil-Jac only lists "Key Ingredients", so I had to go to a retailer site that actually listed their full ingredient statement. I also found different ingredient statements about Pup-Peroni on Pup-Peroni's website than I did about Pup-Peroni on Petco's website. I don't know if this was intentional or simply out of date data - but the packaging itself must be legally correct, so use the packaging as the gospel.
 
Some interesting surprises I am sure. Lots of well recognized brands up there as well as some not so recognized brands that claim to be gourmet. In my opinion, if you have to add corn syrup to a "gourmet dog treat" you are seriously lacking some gourmet ingredients. Real ingredients dogs love do not need sugar or corn syrup to entice them to eat.
 
I think I illustrated my point that corn syrup has infiltrated dog treats and food in parallel that it has with human foods enumerated in the Princeton article. I also don't think it's a huge leap to correlate the corn syrup Americans feed their pets to the rise in obesity being reported by veterinarian studies like the one I quoted at Webvet. 
 
Corn syrup is a cheap ingredient that I think is a "cheap shot" in pet treats. Dogs like fats and sweets just like humans, so they add the penny ingredient corn syrup vs. something high quality like liver or whey. Even regular sugar would be better than corn syrup. To me it's taking the easy road - just add corn syrup and the dogs will eat it! But what toll is it taking on your four legged friend's life? High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, cancer and diabetes?