The All-Natural Illusion

Normally, I rant about High Fructose Corn Syrup on my other blog, since it is primarily associated with beverages. But I am getting just as tired with companies portraying their products as 'natural' as I am with the Corn Lobby for doing the same.
Sure, HFCS is made from corn, right along with biodiesel, ethanol, adhesives and biodegradable plastics. I have several sets of hangers made from the latter. Does that mean I want to eat it? Afraid not. HFCS is a highly refined sweetener, and everyone should avoid eating anything associated with the phrase 'highly refined' or 'highly processed.' So although the initial product it came from was natural, anything that takes this much processing to attain a particular state should defy the label of natural.
The Corn Lobby, or 'Big Corn,' as we like to call it, is in an all out effort to reverse the trend of Americans turning away from HFCS. There have been commercials, magazine ads, and a slew of Internet articles and sites trying to debunk the 'myths' about America's favorite sweetener. Is it OK to consume in moderation? Sure, if you can manage to do that. The AMA says "We do recommend consumers limit the amount of all added caloric sweeteners to no more than 32 grams of sugar daily." That is ONE 12oz can of Coke. Per day. With NO other sweeteners in your diet. And if you like root beet or fruit punch, in one glass you are well over the 32 gram limit. See how difficult that can become?
And as for the companies who label their products as 'natural' with added refined sweeteners, they should be a little more honest. Anything with HFCS, sodium benozoate, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (often made from corn), or enriched white flour is not natural. You cannot reproduce that same product in your home with natural products, unless you happen to have a laboratory and an array of chemicals and enzymes at your disposal. And no, you cannot borrow mine. Also, most fast food is made from or cooking in/with corn and corn byproducts, only extending our dependence on one crop that should be used for other purposes.
I despise corporatism to begin with, although I support the idea of a free-market. I know it's not just the evil companies that are the problem. Mostly, I blame the consumer. Every fat tub-o-guts that cruises up to the drive-thru at their local Mickey D's at least once a day, every middle-aged soccer mom sucking down her sixth daily soda (god forbid it's a diet soda), every lazy-ass parent that takes their kids out to eat instead of cooking at home, has only exacerbated the problem, and the massive explosion of obesity in our fine country.
We live in a time of immediate satisfaction, we are becoming addicted to refined sugars and sodium, consuming as many calories as a professional runner needs in a day, sitting on our asses at home, then in the car, then in the office, and then wonder why we have heart disease, diabetes, and general ill-health. Almost nothing we eat is natural anymore. Even the fruit and veggies you get at the store are covered in waxes, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals.
I've run out of steam for this post. Sigh. My sugar level is too low, I need a damn soda.