From Lucky Charms and SpaghettiOs to Pepsi and yes, that pint of Ben & Jerry’s, high-fructose corn syrup is doused all over the stereotypical college diet.

Amidst recent reports that high-fructose corn syrup may have more serious health effects than ordinary table sugar, or sucrose, Manabu Nakamura, professor of biochemical and molecular nutrition, says that consumers shouldn’t exactly go into panic mode just yet.

“High-fructose corn syrup and sucrose have no big difference,” Nakamura said. “That is the general consensus at the moment.”

Nakamura responded to results released last month from a study conducted at Princeton University claiming lab rats that consumed high-fructose corn syrup gained more weight than those that consumed regular sugar. The authors conclude, “Translated to humans, these results suggest that excessive consumption of HFCS may contribute to the incidence of obesity.”

Nakamura says that the claim is a stretch, at best.

“They don’t have any strong evidence,” Nakamura said. “Only a small part of the paper compares high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose, and their evidence is very weak.”

Many researchers have agreed with Nakamura in electing to not give much merit to the Princeton study, citing poor experimental design as a chief complaint.

While the study’s validity remains questionable in academic circles, Nakamura said that one thing that is unquestionable is the negative health effect of soft drinks, the products most closely linked to high-fructose corn syrup.

Stanley Azie, a junior in LAS and member of the track team, said that while he doesn’t pay much attention to high-fructose corn syrup foods, he has eliminated soft drinks from his diet.

“I don’t drink pop,” Azie said. “The coaches say it’s not good for us. They never tell us specifically it’s because of fructose, but they just tell us to stay away from it.”

Nakamura said that high calorie content is the biggest reason for avoiding soft drinks, and agreed with a national push, led by First Lady Michelle Obama, to eliminate soda from schools.

“To remove soft drinks from vending machines—I think this is a very good move,” Nakamura said.

While many consumers are becoming more conscious of high-fructose corn syrup, no one is thinking about it more than the corn industry.

“Corn is extremely nervous about this,” Nakamura said. “They’re extremely nervous and are trying to defend this.”

In the summer of 2008, the Corn Refiners Association launched its “Sweet Surprise” ad campaign to ward of health criticisms.

A major component of the multi-million dollar campaign is a series of commercials claiming that high-fructose corn syrup is “nutritionally the same as sugar” and “fine in moderation.”

Erika Foster, sophomore in Education, said the corn industry’s commercials, however corny, caught her attention.

“I think they’re interesting because I guess people think it’s bad for you,” Foster said.

It is this line of thinking that may have led to the commercialization of products like Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback, which are stamped with a conspicuous label: “made with real sugar.”

But the implied health benefits aren’t fooling Nakamura.

“The message they’re trying to make is that it’s healthier. It’s wrong. It could be tastier- I don’t know.”

Elizabeth Kraft, graduate student, said she doesn’t really believe the hype that natural sugar is any healthier than high-fructose corn syrup either.

“Sugar is just as bad for you as anything else,” Kraft said.

While many are resigned with the fact that sweeteners in general are no good, as more studies are conducted, the more the debate will move into national and local consciousness.

“Manufacturers are definitely sensitive to this issue, and this college is definitely sensitive to this issue,” Nakamura said.