High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a nutritive (calorie-containing) sweetener derived from corn. It’s found in many carbonated soft drinks, juice drinks and sports drinks, as well as other snacks, syrups, jellies and other sweetened products.

The name “high fructose corn syrup” has caused confusion for some people. Despite its name, HFCS is generally only about half fructose and structurally very similar to table sugar (sucrose). They are both composed of the same two simple sugar building-blocks, glucose and fructose (which helps explain why their taste is so similar). The difference is that table sugar contains equal amounts of the two simple sugars (i.e. 50% fructose and 50% glucose), while the form of HFCS predominantly used in beverages contains slightly more fructose (55% fructose) and less glucose.

Nutritionally speaking, it’s also important to note that HFCS and table sugar contain the same number of calories – 4 calories per gram or 16 calories per teaspoon

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HFCS as a safe ingredient for use in food and beverages. In fact, the FDA based its decision in part on the substantial similarity between HFCS and sucrose (table sugar).