Corn Refiners Association facts for kids
The Corn Refiners Association (often called CRA) is a group based in Washington, D.C.. It works for companies in the United States that turn corn into different products. These products include corn starch, corn oil, and a sweetener called high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
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What the CRA Does
The Corn Refiners Association works on many different topics related to corn and its products. They deal with rules, trade, and even how people see certain foods.
Working with Railroads
The CRA once spoke out against two big railroad companies, Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, joining together. The CRA worried this would mean less competition and higher prices for shipping goods.
Making Biofuels
In 2004, the CRA worked with the University of Illinois and the Agricultural Research Service. They created computer models to figure out how much it costs to make ethanol. Ethanol is a type of fuel often made from corn.
Biotech and Crops
In 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggested new rules for biotech crops. These are crops that have been changed using modern science, like genetically engineered crops. The CRA and other groups were concerned about these new rules. They worried that changing the rules might affect how much people trust farm products. They also thought it could make trade harder for these crops.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
The CRA has done a lot of work to talk about High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). This is a sweetener made from corn.
Talking About HFCS
In 2008, the CRA started a campaign called "Changing the Conversation about High Fructose Corn Syrup." Early ads said HFCS was "natural." But Michael F. Jacobson, who leads a group called the Center for Science in the Public Interest, disagreed. He said HFCS is changed by chemicals and doesn't exist in nature.
Later ads said HFCS is "made from corn" and "is okay to eat in moderation." However, some people pointed out that HFCS is in thousands of products. So, it can be hard to eat it only in small amounts unless you try very hard to avoid it.
Trying to Change the Name
In 2010, the CRA asked to change the name of HFCS on food labels to "corn sugar." Many thought this was because HFCS had a bad reputation.
The New York Times asked food experts what they thought. Some suggested other names, like "enzymatically altered corn glucose." Dr. Andrew Weil thought "corn sugar" was too vague. He felt the CRA's attempt to change the name was misleading. But Dr. Barry Popkin believed "corn sugar" was a good name. In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration said no to the name change.
Reaching Out to Bloggers
In 2010, the CRA also contacted people who write "mom blogs" through an organization called MomCentral.com. They offered gift cards to bloggers who wrote about a CRA event. This event claimed that high fructose corn syrup was safe and healthy. Some well-known bloggers criticized this method. They also criticized the bloggers who shared the CRA's information.
Trade Agreements
The CRA is very involved in trade deals that affect corn products.
Trade with the Netherlands
In 1991, the Netherlands put up trade barriers that affected American corn growers. This would have made it more expensive to sell corn-based products there. The CRA spoke out against these rules. A trade deal was reached in 1992 to solve the problem.
Trade with North America
The CRA strongly supports the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This is a free trade deal between the three countries. The CRA and other groups even sponsored a "Motorcade for Trade." This motorcade traveled through farming areas to show support for the USMCA. The goal was to help lawmakers understand how free trade helps farmers.
Trade with Mexico
In the late 1990s, Mexico made it harder to sell corn sweeteners from the U.S. there. In 2002, they added a 20% tax on soft drinks not made with Mexican sugar. This caused a long argument. The World Trade Organization eventually said the soft-drink tax was against the rules. Mexico and the U.S. agreed to remove the taxes by 2008.
Trade with China
In 2019, the CRA also supported a trade deal between the United States and China.
Leadership
As of 2020, the person leading the CRA as president and CEO was John Bode.
Members
Some of the companies that are members of the CRA include:
- Archer Daniels Midland
- Cargill
- Ingredion
- Roquette America, Inc.
- Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas
