18/11/08 A recent national survey revealed that moms are more concerned with individual ingredients rather than their children's overall caloric intake. Since total calories typically determine weight gain and even obesity, parents must understand the basic nutritional facts to keep their kids healthy.

"Many accusations rely on speculation that tries to link single ingredients, including sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup, to obesity," said Dr. James M. Rippe, cardiologist and biomedical sciences professor at the University of Central Florida. "Americans are eating more of everything -- it's the excess calories and sedentary lifestyle that are having the greatest impact."

Dr. Kristine Clark, assistant professor at Penn State University, who is working with the Corn Refiners Association discusses the topic in more depth, including the role that sweeteners play in our diet.