HHS Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to ban high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and seed oils has reportedly raised concerns among corn farmers, particularly in key Trump-supporting regions like western Ohio.
Corn farming in this area is a major industry, and a significant portion of the crop is used to produce HFCS, a sweetener found in a wide range of processed foods, reports The Guardian.
Kennedy, selected by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has been vocal about his desire to reduce the use of HFCS, which he links to health issues like obesity and diabetes.
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With about 8% of U.S. corn dedicated to HFCS production, farmers worry that any shift away from this market could drastically impact their incomes.
Experts estimate that up to 1.4 billion bushels of corn could be displaced if a ban is implemented, leading to a potential drop in prices.
However, while concerns are real, many farmers in Ohio’s Darke and Shelby counties, where Trump enjoys strong support, are adopting a “wait-and-see” approach, the report adds.
The U.S. Corn Refiners Association, which represents major agribusinesses, declined to comment on the potential impact of Kennedy’s stance.
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Meanwhile, some farmers, like Dan Kelley from Illinois, are more focused on external factors such as global competition and trade tariffs than on Kennedy’s health-focused policies, The Guardian adds.
Despite Kennedy’s outspoken views on food reform, experts don’t expect immediate changes to the HFCS market.
Although corn and seed crops are a significant component of U.S. agriculture, the demand for high fructose corn syrup has dropped by nearly 50% since 1999.
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