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Sugar v. HFCS suit settled

The sugar industry and the corn refiners have settled their lawsuits against each other but details have not been disclosed.  The sugar industry accused the corn refiners of false advertising for claiming high fructose corn syrup is nutritionally the same as sugar.  The corn refiners charged the sugar industry with conducting a campaign of misinformation about the health effects of HFCS.  Sugar sought $1.1 billion in compensatory damages while the corn refiners asked for $530 million in their countersuit.

After years of delays, Western Sugar Cooperative et al. v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company et al finally went to court earlier this month in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

It is not known what prompted the sudden settlement on Friday.  The parties released a statement saying details of the agreement are confidential and they will “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.”

Those involved in the suits include:

The Sugar Association, Inc.                          Corn Refiners Association, Inc.

Western Sugar Cooperative                          Archer-Daniels-Midland Company

Michigan Sugar Company                            Cargill, Incorporated

C&H Sugar Company, Inc.                          Ingredion Incorporated

United States Sugar Corp.                            Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC

American Sugar Refining, Inc.,

The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC

Imperial Sugar Company

Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative

The American Sugar Cane League of the U.S.A., Inc.