HERSHEY, Pa. -- Hershey is looking at replacing the high-fructose corn syrup in some of its products with sugar.
Will Papa, chief research and development officer at The Hershey Co., told the Associated Press that the company uses a mix of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in its products but that it is "moving more toward sugar."
"We take into account what consumers want. And consumers are telling us between the two, they prefer sugar," Papa said.
A switch to sugar would make Hershey a high-profile example of the move away from high-fructose corn syrup in the food industry. Many people say they avoid it because it has gained a bad reputation for fueling weight gain and diabetes, though health experts says there's not enough evidence to conclude it's any worse than regular sugar.
In statement provided to the news agency, Hershey said its work on "exploring" the replacement of high-fructose corn syrup "is just under way" and that it did not have a timeframe on when it might be complete.
A representative for Hershey, Jeff Beckman, cited Almond Joy, Fifth Avenue, Take 5 and York as examples of products that use corn syrup. He said classic Hershey bars are made with sugar.
"Our aim is to be transparent with our consumers about the ingredients we use in our products. Once we have more information to share, we will be back in touch," Hershey said.
Other products that have changed from high-fructose corn syrup to sugar include Gatorade drinks and Yoplait yogurt.
Hershey, with headquarters in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader offering chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. The company, which has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.1 billion in annual revenues, includes such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers.
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