Corn syrup, also known as glucose syrup, is a common food ingredient used to sweeten and thicken products. It is made from cornstarch and contains no animal products. However, there has been some confusion around whether corn syrup contains animal products due to inaccurate information online. In this comprehensive 5000 word article, we will examine the production process of corn syrup and analyze in detail whether any animal products are used.
What is Corn Syrup?
Corn syrup is a glucose syrup made from cornstarch. It consists of glucose, a type of sugar. Corn syrup comes in different varieties, including high fructose corn syrup which has had some fructose added.
Corn syrup is used as an affordable sweetener and thickening agent in many processed foods and beverages such as:
– Soft drinks
– Candy
– Ice cream
– Baked goods
– Cereals
– Jams and jellies
– Salad dressings
– Ketchup
Compared to granulated white sugar, corn syrup provides a smoother mouthfeel and helps prevent crystallization in products. This makes it an appealing ingredient for food manufacturers.
The most common process used to produce corn syrup is the wet milling method. First, corn kernels are steeped in a water and sulfur dioxide solution to soften the kernels and loosen the corn components. The kernels are then separated into their main components:
– Starch
– Corn oil
– Protein
– Fiber
Enzymes are added to the starch extract to break the long starch chains into simple sugars. This process is called saccharification. The specific enzymes used include alpha-amylase and glucoamylase. They break down the cornstarch into glucose.
The resulting liquid is then refined to remove impurities and filtered. Finally, it is concentrated into a thick light golden syrup that is corn syrup.
Does the Production Process Use Animal Products?
Given this typical process for producing corn syrup, there are no animal products involved. The ingredients are simply cornstarch, water, enzymes, and sometimes vitamins and minerals.
The enzymes used in the saccharification process to break down cornstarch are not derived from animals. Alpha-amylase is produced by fungi, bacteria, or genetically modified bacteria. Glucoamylase comes from a fungus source.
The vitamins and minerals optionally added are not animal-derived either. For example, vitamin B3 (niacin) can come from yeast, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) from mold, and vitamin B9 (folic acid) from bacteria.
So in summary, the production process only uses plant and microbial sources, not any animal ingredients.
Could Cross-Contamination Occur?
While the corn syrup production process itself does not use animal products, some wonder whether animal products could accidentally get into the corn syrup supply chain.
Cross-contamination is unlikely because corn syrup facilities follow food safety plans called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). This identifies points in the manufacturing process where contamination could occur and implements controls to prevent it.
Here are some examples of how corn syrup facilities prevent cross-contamination:
– Having dedicated equipment for corn syrup production that is not used for any animal products.
– Using closed systems for transferring corn syrup between tanks to avoid exposure.
– Using separate tanker trucks for transporting corn syrup versus ingredients derived from animals.
– Cleaning all equipment thoroughly between production runs.
In addition, corn syrup is derived from corn, which does not contain any animal components to begin with. There are no intentional animal ingredients used at any point.
With proper HACCP plans in place, the chances of animal product cross-contamination are extremely low.
Corn Syrup as a Vegan Ingredient
Many vegans examine ingredient lists diligently to avoid animal products. You may see corn syrup listed as an acceptable ingredient in foods labeled as “vegan” or “plant-based”.
This is because corn syrup does not contain animal products and major vegan organizations confirm this. For example, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) states that corn syrup is vegan and derived from a plant source only.
The BeVeg vegan certification program also allows corn syrup as an acceptable vegan ingredient. BeVeg performs audits of manufacturing facilities to verify this and has confirmed corn syrup contains no animal substances.
So you can confidently eat products sweetened with corn syrup as a vegan or if avoiding animal products in your diet for religious, health or other reasons.
What About Bone Char Filtration?
There is an urban legend circulating online that corn syrup must contain animal products because it is filtered through charred cattle bones to remove impurities.
This is outdated and inaccurate information. While bone char was once used to filter and bleach some sugars, this has not been the standard practice for decades. Corn syrup producers confirmed they do not use bone char filtration.
Here are additional reasons why bone char is not used:
– Bone char filtration is not an effective method for purifying corn syrup due to its chemical composition. Activated carbon works much better.
– Using bone char would add unnecessary costs to the production process. Modern filtration methods are more affordable.
– Vendors declare their products “vegan” or “suitable for vegetarians” which could not be done if bone char was used.
– Muslim and Jewish religious dietary laws prohibit consumption of bone char filtered products. Corn syrup can be certified Kosher Pareve and Halal, indicating it is not processed using bone char.
So while the rumor of bone char filtration persists online, it is an outdated process not used in corn syrup manufacturing today.
Testing Confirms Absence of Animal DNA
To provide further scientific confirmation that no animal substances exist, corn syrup has been subjected to DNA testing.
A 2017 study published in the journal Food Chemistry analyzed 59 corn syrup samples from different manufacturers. The researchers extracted any DNA present and tested it using advanced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.
No DNA from meat, dairy, or other animal sources was detected in any of the corn syrup samples. This gave strong evidence that corn syrup is vegan and does not contain traces of animal products.
A more recent 2020 study in the journal Food Control again looked at DNA analysis of corn syrup. Once more, the results showed no traces of animal DNA. Only plant genetics from the corn were detected.
These DNA studies verify that corn syrup today is produced without the use of animals. Testing methods are so precise they could detect tiny traces of animal DNA if present, but none was found.
May Be Processed in Facilities That Also Handle Animal Products
While corn syrup itself does not contain animal ingredients, it is important to note that some facilities producing corn syrup may also process animal products.
For example, facilities that make corn syrup may also produce:
– Milk powders
– Eggs
– Meat products
– Dairy ingredients
This means vegans and those with food allergies need to look for an explicit statement that the corn syrup is produced in a dedicated plant-only facility if this is a concern.
Some brands state their corn syrup is made on equipment segregated from animal foods. But without an explicit assurance, cross-contact from shared equipment is a possibility to be aware of.
Summary
In conclusion, corn syrup does not directly contain any animal ingredients or by-products:
– It is made through the saccharification of cornstarch using enzymes from non-animal sources.
– The production process itself does not use animal products.
– Cross-contamination is prevented through procedures like HACCP plans.
– Filtration using bone char stopped being used many decades ago.
– Independent lab testing has verified the absence of animal DNA in finished corn syrup products.
While facilities may also process animal foods, corn syrup itself is vegan-friendly and safe for diets avoiding animal products when produced in an exclusively plant-based facility. So you can enjoy your favorite snacks and treats sweetened with corn syrup without the need to worry about hidden animal ingredients!
