Where Would We Be Without Corn?
Written by Katie Peterson
In today’s world, famers, consumers, and health professionals often discuss the use of corn products. Some argue that certain products, like high fructose corn syrup, are unhealthy for people to consume. Others argue that the use of corn in so many products is beneficial for producer and consumer alike.
While pondering my own position on the corn product topic, I began to look around my dorm room and think about all of the products that I use every day that contain corn as an ingredient. I grabbed a few things, started reading the ingredients, and to my surprise, I collected 32 items in my tiny dorm room that contained corn. While most of the items were food, I also found things like my shampoo, make-up, and ibuprofen also contained corn as an ingredient.
The use of corn in other products aside from the traditional uses is quite beneficial for corn farmers. Corn has become a crop that can be used in a wide variety of products rather than just livestock feeds and ethanol. It has provided an extra outlet for farmers to sell their corn crop, thus raising market prices and bringing more options to consumers. This is just a small list of products that have corn in them.
- Aspirin
- Breakfast cereal
- Candies
- Chewing gum
- Cosmetics
- Crayons
- Instant coffee
- Jams/Jellies
- Ketchup
- Plastic
- Paper plates
- Peanut butter
- Pop
- Rugs/carpets
- Lotions
- Salad dressing
- Toothpaste
- Wallpaper
- Yogurt
I then thought, where would I be and what would I do if there wasn’t any corn? I would have a hard time getting ready for the day without shampoo, make up, pop tarts, and coffee. My animals would be hungry, and my family’s farm would be out of business.
The next time you use a product or eat food be sure to check the label to see if it contains corn If it does, remember it probably came from a family farm like mine.
Who knows where we’d all be without corn?
Katie Peterson is a student Agvocate for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. She grew up on a farm near Grove City, Minn., and currently attends Gustavus Adolphus College where she majors in political science.
