According to the institute, their investigation was due to their early awareness of the results presented in Environmental Science this week which led them to investigate possible mercury contamination in popular foods containing high fructose corn syrup. Their investigation involved going to supermarkets and collecting dozens of brand-named products in which high fructose corn syrup was listed as the first or second ingredient. The products were then sent to a commercial laboratory for mercury testing.

Included in the investigation were mostly soft drinks, snack foods and other items mostly marketed to children -- 55 different items. Tested items included beverages like 7-Up, A & W Root Beer, Coca-Cola Classic, Dr. Pepper, Fanta Orange Soda, and Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red Beverage. Also tested were popular products like Aunt Jemima Original Syrup, Campbell’s Tomato Soup, Heinz Hotdog Relish, Tomato Ketchup, and Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce, Hershey’s Caramel and Chocolate Syrups, Kool-Aid Bursts Tropical Punch and Cherry Jammers Beverages, Wish-Bone Thousand Island and Western Sweet and Smooth Dressings, and Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt (a complete listing of products tested is included in the Appendix of the study report).

Investigators at the institute detected mercury in nearly one in three of the 55 food products tested. Mercury was found in popular brand-name products from Quaker, Hunt’s, Manwich, Hershey’s, Smucker’s, Kraft, Nutri-Grain and Yoplait. Although mercury was not detected in most beverages it was found in popular products like Coca-Cola Classic and Minute Maid Berry Punch. The highest mercury levels were found in Quaker Oatmeal to Go, Heinz Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce, Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup, Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce, Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars, Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe, Market Pantry Grape Jelly, Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly, and Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry.

Investigators at the institute suggest that the mercury in the tested foods was likely due to the use of  high fructose corn syrup that had been contaminated with mercury and as such, the producers were likely unaware of the mercury content in the foods they were selling until this report was released. Mercury is a known biotoxin.  Exposure has been linked to an increased risk of birth defects, problems during pregnancy, mental retardation, and a number of other serious health conditions.

Learn more about mercury

Find organic alternatives to most packaged food items (generally made without high fructose corn syrup) in our Living the Science Clean & Green Marketplace.

Learn about ways to reduce chemical exposures from food and other consumer products in our "Automating Less Toxic Choices" series.

Other recent News and Discoveries related to chemicals and human health:

Mercury Found in High Fructose Corn Syrup
California Decision to Phase Out Dangerous Dry Cleaning Chemical Challenged
Studies Suggest PCB Exposure During Pregnancy Hurts Cognitive Development in Children
Avoiding Bisphenol A (BPA) Likely Best Bet for Better Health