Craig, Yes, sugars are sugars. However, with many mainstream brands of jellies, corn syrup is the first ingredient, meaning it's the dominant ingredient, then continuing down the list can be some questionable and unnecessary ingredients. What you get are flavored sugars, which are way to much for even human consumption. I seen labels of some brands that don't contain any of what the product states it is, e.g. "grape jelly" with no grapes or grape juice! I wouldn't feed myself, let alone birds, any of that stuff. I recommend organic grape jelly that contains no pesticides or other unhealthy, unnatural ingredients. Read the label which should state grapes as the first ingredient, then sweetener source i.e. juice from fruit (often pear juice) or honey, maybe some pectin, and that's it. Label reading can be an enlightening experience. Meredith Sampson Old Greenwich -- Craig Repasz <crepasz@hotmail.com> wrote: Fructose is fructose whether it comes from corn or if it gomes from fruit. The corn starches need to be treated with an enzyme manufactured from bacteria in order to produce the fructose. Fructose is a natural product produced by plants. Fructose like all sugars get metabolized into glucose then used by the body. One can argue that all sugars are chemicals. Studies have shown that diets high in high fructose corn syrup can lead to obesity and other problems. As mentioned there are other products available many sweetened with fruit juice concentrates. However, it is still a high concentration of fructose. I wonder if unnaturally high sugar concentrations, fructose, sucrose etc. can have an adverse effect on birds. Or will they be better off if just put fruit out? Craig > From: wingsct@juno.com> Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 23:27:20 +0000> To: kestrel9222@sbcglobal.net> CC: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Grape Jelly High Fructose Corn Syrup> > Shari,> You can get organic grape jelly which is sweet enough on its own, or there> are some brands that use fruit juice as a sweetener. Available in the natural> foods section of most supermarkets or at a natural foods store such as> Whole Foods.> > Meredith Sampson> Old Greenwich> > > -- Shari <kestrel9222@sbcglobal.net> wrote:> I have put grape jelly out for the orioles, too. I am wondering if we should because it all seems to have high fructose corn syrup. According to nutritionists, this is a chemical, not a food and is metabolized in strange ways. Any thoughts? I suppose we could sweeten some grape juice with cane sugar as a substitute.> Shari Guarino, Southington> _______________________________________________> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > _____________________________________________________________> It's never too old to date. Senior Dating. Click Here.> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/REAK6aAZLiIu1XiuG3dqrq4y8yMpWbgFSC5tw2EcCWBfYfK4JOyc7P/> _______________________________________________> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org _________________________________________________________________ Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_video_042008 _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org _____________________________________________________________ Compete with the big boys. Click here to find products to benefit your business. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3m7tDRCl2TVjgBbmqU6HG5vAsDA0zsMFn14PYtogcDhqYBAn/