A Sweet Surprise

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One thing that I have been noticing is the good health and nutrition of Australians. Gyms and public parks are everywhere, there are advertisements for exercise routines and health food on the train platforms, and very few people are overweight. There aren’t very many fast food restaurants (especially comparatively), and a vast majority of food is all natural, with few artificial chemicals or preservatives. One large difference I have seen in numerous foods is the lack of high fructose corn syrup, even in foods such as candy and soda in which it is usually the main ingredient.

My personal interest in this issue is very strong, as my little brother Max has multiple severe food allergies, one of which is to corn. Therefore, anything with corn syrup, (high fructose or not), dextrose, multidextrin, multidextrose, corn starch or meal, and dozens of other things he cannot eat. These chemicals and fillers are in 90% of the food we eat because they are cheaper than all natural materials such as sugar or flour. It makes it incredibly hard to buy food for my brother, and it’s very frustrating (especially for him) to be denied regular food. It makes me resentful of these food companies, who disregard the health and well-being of their customers in order to make a few extra cents. I always bring Max back some candy and a Coke from overseas, because it’s the only times he is able to enjoy these things that normal people eat constantly.

I spoke to two different people- both candy sellers, actually- about the issue of using artificial flavours and chemicals in foods, high fructose corn syrup specifically. The first person I spoke to was the man selling Sticky’s Candy at the street market in The Rocks. When I saw the stall- with an advertisement about hand-made candy- I immediately went over to see if it was something Max could eat. When I read the ingredients- just sugar, water, and natural colourings- I exclaimed that my brother could eat it, and he seemed surprised, saying, “Well, yea, everyone can eat it!” After I explained to him why I was so happy, he understood, especially because he had lived in California for several years previously. We talked about how in Australia, everything- even the cheap Coca-Cola sodas- were made with real cane sugar, and none of the artificial sweeteners. He agreed with me that things just taste lighter and better without the artificial stuff, and he was very proud when he talked about his company not using anything but natural, simple ingredients. Shouldn’t that be the attitude everywhere?

The second person I talked to was a man working at Delicasey’s stall. At the Paddington Market I went in to buy some chocolate and ended up discussing food and health with him for almost ten minutes. After free samples and buying a couple bags, he asked where I was from, what I was doing here, all of the usual questions. I then, after looking at the ingredient labels, commented that it was so strange in America to find food without corn syrup in it, and that I loved eating food abroad because it was so much easier to find healthier, more natural foods. We talked about the differences between foods made with artificial versus natural ingredients (we concluded that they definitely are heavier and stickier, and taste sickly sweet) and how terrible it is that most people don’t even know what they are eating. He said how wonderful it was that young people seemed to be getting more cognizant about things like this, and wished that more people could become more aware and push more for natural food.

Australia is definitely the most fitness-centric country I have traveled to, but many countries are also as progressive when it comes to healthier food, especially compared to the USA. High fructose corn syrup companies ran a commercial a few years ago, declaring that “It’s just corn, it’s all natural.” That is true- corn is natural, and corn syrup itself isn’t necessarily bad for you- in moderation. But the problem is that in America it’s impossible to have it in moderation, because it is in everything. Trust me- for almost 15 years now I’ve helped with the shopping for my little brother, and finding something without corn syrup in it- without it being disgusting plain rice cakes or a twelve dollar box of organic cereal- is incredibly aggravating. Many countries- especially Australia- have raised public awareness and have either placed rules against its use or taken it out of products. I wish that the USA could have the same attitude towards things like this- maybe then we can lower our place on the “Fattest Country” list.