Corn in Food
Learning Objective
I can identify different ways corn is used in food products.
Key Concepts
In 2018, the U.S. produced about two and a half tons of corn for every person living in the states, which is used in sodas, processed foods, and even gasoline.
Government involvement in agriculture began during The Great War to secure food production, but later commodity price and supply controls were introduced during the Great Depression to address oversupply and ecological damage.
The abundance of cheap corn led to the rise of high fructose corn syrup as a substitute for sugar, which is now a common ingredient in processed foods and has been linked to health issues like weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 7 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. According to the video, what is one of the primary reasons corn became such a dominant crop in the US?
2. Name three food products mentioned in the video that commonly contain corn or corn derivatives.
3. What is high fructose corn syrup, and why did it become a popular ingredient in the US food industry?
...and 4 more questions
Educational Video
The Corn Industry - Factory Farming, Processed Foods, and Ethanol
Good to Know