A sugar industry party, including the Sugar Association, and a corn refinery industry party, including the Corn Refiners Association, have reached a settlement in a pending lawsuit.
Advertisement
The sugar companies filed suit against the Corn Refiners Association and its members in 2011, alleging their false marketing of high-fructose corn syrup as a natural nutritional equivalent to sugar resulted in market losses.
The two sides said in their joint statement that they would “continue their commitments to practices that encourage safe and healthful use of their products, including moderation in the consumption of table sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners”.
The case is Western Sugar Cooperative et al. vs. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company et al.
Both sides announced the deal that puts an end to a trial that began nearly three weeks ago in Los Angeles federal court pitting sugar against high fructose corn syrup.
Eric Rose, a spokesman for the sugar processors, said they “achieved a satisfactory settlement of the disputes in the lawsuit”.
Cargill, ADM, Tate & Lyle were on the statement individually as well as Ingredion Inc.
Big Sugar and Big Corn have battled in the marketplace since the 1970s when high fructose corn syrup was introduced as a cheaper alternative to sugar.
In 1999, the average American consumed 85.3 pounds of corn sweeteners a year, compared with 66.4 pounds of sugar, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012 ruled that corn syrup, used to sweeten foods including soda, could not be called sugar.
The sugar growers wanted more than $1 billion in damages, while the corn refiners wanted $530 million.
Advertisement
Both parties agreed to the settlement on Friday at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles).
