Karo syrup (corn syrup) was originally promoted in 1905 as, “An appetizer that makes you eat.” See the original Karo Syrup Ad, circa 1905.
Remember in 1905 a good appetite was necessary if you wanted a longer lifespan. Scrawny folks just had a harder time warding off illness.
The USDA figures show that the steady growth of high-fructose corn syrup, which ballooned from zero consumption in 1966 to 62.6 pounds per person in 2001 also corresponds to the rapid rise in obesity. It is believed that this high consumption of corn syrup is undermining appetite control, the very thing Karo used in it’s advertising. Also from 1965 to 1996 soft-drink consumption increased 287% in boys and 224% in girls, and corn syrup is the primary sweetener used in soft drinks.
Small wonder corn syrup is now being largly blamed for the rampant obesity. Guess they were right about that “making you eat,” thing.
In the interest of fairness, check out the High Fructose Corn Syrup Facts website where they refute this. I wouldn’t have believed it either, but hey, it was a selling point in 1905!
