The controversy over the HFCS post I wrote has become quite popular, or un-popular I should say. The last time I had such a popular post that wasn’t a giveaway was when I was writing about my organs falling out and the anxiety I live with. Let me tell you, this mess has caused my anxiety to come back a lot quicker than I expected it to. I usually only deal with the anxiety once a month but this might be a long month for me. With popular bloggers writing about me, some linking to me and other’s respecting me and my site; I wonder if I actually have a thick enough skin to seriously partake in this Blogging Community. If I am going to take on controversial posts I need to develop that thick skin quickly!
I took the Corn Refiners campaign because every time I support a company like Kellogg’s or Sara Lee I get nasty e-mails about myself as a mother or about the health of my children. I do care about my children and if you knew me personally you would think I was a sugar Nazi. I honestly don’t care about HFCS at all, and I never said I did in the post. I said I think of it as I do sugar, and I limit sugar of any kind in my children’s diets so much so that my children’s doctor had to tell me to let them have a little bit. If I limit it all the time, when they are in an environment that I’m not there to control then they’ll over indulge. My kids don’t get juice, cookies or ice cream unless it’s a special treat and those are rare. My husband gave them some cotton candy the other day and I thought I was going to have a heart attack on the spot. But in moderation, a little processed food or sugar of any kind is not going to kill my kids. I cook dinner for my kids often, but I’m also a mom of convenience and I’m not afraid to share that with my readers. I’m not a crunchy and I’ve never pretended to be. When I shop for foods, I look for any of the key words that mean sugar, syrup, HFCS, glucose, fructose, and sugar itself, I don’t buy things that have sugar as a main ingredient. I also look at the calories, fat, and number of sugars in the nutritional information. That is what I think all moms should do. Set limits.
So why is it so bad to write a post raising awareness? I was completely up front with who the presenters/experts were. I even mentioned who each one worked for and who they were associated with. I knew it was slanted by the Corn Refiners and anyone looking at my post should have been able to see that fact. I even wonder how many people actually Read my post before jumping on their I hate HFCS and Corn Refiners band wagons. Did you even notice that we might be dealing with a new branding here. I wanted to raise awareness that HFCS might be rebranding to corn sugar.
I took this campaign because I knew it was controversial and that I would get comments. I never expected to be so honored by being linked to on numerous other blogs. In fact it makes me think that yes I was under paid by the Corn Refiners and Mom Central because my reach is much larger than I expected it to be. In all honestly, I want to thank those of you that are using me as an example. You have raised my traffic and stats and have raised even more awareness about the Corn Refiners and their plans than I ever could have on my own. I’m just a little disgusted at some of the comments being left on those posts! You all want to send me into Mommy Over Protective Monster over here. So while I go out and get some fresh air, you’ll have to forgive me for not leaving comments on all of your posts or stirring the pot anymore than this response here.
I appreciate my readers because you were all very kind and left informative comments.
To the Rest of you…Understand that there is a blogger, a person with feelings that is writing these posts. Attack the content and not the person. Dragging my name or any of the other blogger’s names through the mud because we wrote about something you do not agree with is only hurtful. Understand, my opinions cannot be bought. I write what I want to write about regardless of someone paying me or not. I pick and choose and you may not agree with me.
I am so uneducated about HFCS and I dont belong to MomCentral. That being said, I wouldn’t exactly be surfing the internet for that kind of information, I would be asking my dr if i felt I needed to know more.
The internet is vast full of opinions and finding facts in all of that, its pretty difficult.
I think, judging by this post, you are a more nutritional mother than I am. We eat snacks, I drink soda (but dont live by it), we keep cookies in the house, snack cakes, and other varieties of goodies. My child wont touch soda and never has, but cotton candy? Are you kidding? Yes, we have most definitely had that a time or two.
I can look around and see that for the most part my family stays fit and trim. We work out and spend lots of outdoor time and no one is eating a bowl of popcorn and calling it dinner. I just get frustrated that you, or anyone, has defend what you write in your own space.
The campaign was clearly marketing and if it was labeled sponsored…people need to learn to take it with a grain of….sugar.
Take care.
I do agree that it’s ridiculous how people are treating the bloggers over this (but, to be honest, I think some of the ones writing the “oh my gosh” posts are doing so because they ENJOY controversy and know this will be a big one).
I am not a HFCS fan, but — like you — it’s because I’m not a sugar fan. I work hard to avoid HFCS (even though it’s hard because it’s everywhere now) but I also work hard to limit sugars in general when buyin anything remotely processed. I’ve learned the best way is just avoid processed foods and make everything myself . . . of course, it’s time consuming, but it’s what mom’s have done for centuries to give their families what they believe to be best.
Yes — everyone should have been able to recognize that this was an effort by the Corn Refiners to rebrand themselves, using one of the fast, most popular methods to do so — Mom Bloggers.
I think the bloggers who participated (and I don’t mean you — I mean everyone in general) should have done a little independent research OR explained their own opinions better . . rather than just making it look like they were blindly accepting what the Corn Refiners Assoc. was telling them. (but, in my opinion, this goes for every paid-post/news release a mom blogger accepts . . . be able to back up and justify what you print — and make sure it’s worth the gift card)
I love that you addressed that the controversy is driving you traffic. So true. I haven’t read any of the stuff but I agree that questioning a bloggers parenting based on a post is wrong regardless of the topic. Personally I am not at al health concious and my kids will often pick fruit over candy because nothing is taboo in our house. So I say bring on the hrcs jk, sorta
I tried really hard to think of you as a woman that I might sit across a table with one day.
I thought I was respectful, if you thing otherwise, I’m sorry for that.
No Jessica,
I did not think you were disrespectful in any way. I just can’t read the comments on your site for too long because then I get all riled up. After I hit publish, it hit me, of course your commenters would say the things they did because they follow you for a reason. They have the same ideals you do, as I hope that my readers would feel the way I do. I tried to not say anything negative about the people that linked to me. I hope I didn’t offend you in any way that was not my goal. The only reason why I linked back to you was because my In Real Life friends that do not blog, wanted to see the posts that were talking about me.
I mostly just wanted to defind myself as a blogger and a mother.
good post. you handled it well!
Louise, I think you know how much I actually do care about you. I maybe started the post to hastily, I look back now and was all riled up about Mom Central getting bloggers to “market” HFCS. Okay so they want to change the name? Personally I don’t think it should be allowed to be changed. It’s not sugar, and just think about the generations to come. If something doesn’t change they’ll think it’s normal. HFCS is not the same a sugar and I don’t think moms should be fooled into thinking it is.
I feel like I’m totally repeating myself but…
there’s huge multibillion dollar interest groups at work. I just don’t believe in whatever way, shape or form, Mom Central shouldn’t use their mom bloggers to get them to write such things. I did take time during naptime today and go back and read some of the posts. I found that some are very neutral and others were not. I don’t like the feeling that lobbyists are now within the mom blogging community. I just always thought we hadn’t reached that point. At first I was a little baffled, and then a little angry. I shouldn’t have said the bloggers just did it for compensation, because after reading about 12 of the posts I see a few that have been changed and others were like yours. That I am sorry for, generalizing all the bloggers in that way.
I never would want to hurt you, ever! I know what kind of mother you are, and I’m glad you stand up for what you believe in.
I just wanted to say that I appreciated reading your original post and Jessica’s post. It’s these different perspectives that make the blogging world a place I like to frequent. Keep doing what you are doing and you’ll readers will surely respect you for remaining true to yourself. After all, it is you they came to hear from originally.
For the record, I’ve been in the “Mommy Blogger” controversy spotlight before over my decision to visit the P&G Pamper’s HQ. I dealt with the at times unkind words as well on that regard. I promise, it will pass soon enough.
Oh yes – I wonder why the Pitchfork campaign is out on this issue –
I just watched Beauty & the Beast the other day – and can picture the scene with the villagers marching towards the castle – and rather than the Beast in the castle there are a few corn stalks wavering in fear.
What I actually find somewhat comical is most of the “facts” the other side (those against HFCS) are quoting are just as skewed or even more so than what the Corn Refiners Association presented to us.
Just know there are still some bloggers out here, that respect your opinion and enjoy reading your blog and what you have to say, even we don’t always agree with it. You’re an excellent writer Louise, and I’m glad you share and speak your mind!
Louise…I feel for you. This has all gotten way out of control. This is a well-written, and well thought out post. I hope everyone can move on now!
Don’t moms have a hard enough time defending their choices and decisions as it is?
I think some people just thrive on drama. It should be put to better use then putting others down. Sorry you have to deal with this!!
Your post was very well written, hopefully everyone can let it all go and move on!
I wish people would remember there are people behind these posts. I am like you in that my kids get limited sugar and lord knows ketchup (in all it’s HFCS glory) is it’s own level on the food pyramid. I honestly believe in all things in moderation. ((HUGS))