Lawsuit alleges girl's type 2 diabetes linked to corn syrup

BUFFALO, N.Y., June 24 (UPI) -- A lawsuit by a Buffalo, N.Y.-area girl alleges her diabetes is linked to high fructose corn syrup and seeks $5 million in damages, court papers say.

J. Michael Hayes, a lawyer for the family of the 14-year-old girl from the Buffalo suburb of Amherst -- diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when she was 12 -- said the family is suing six manufacturers of high fructose corn syrup in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

The lawsuit said the girl was never warned about the risks of high fructose corn syrup -- a common ingredient in many foods.

"They know this stuff has adverse consequences, and if there's harm associated with it, you should get a warning," Hayes told the Buffalo (N.Y.) News. He said "solid science" supports the lawsuit's claim of a link to diabetes.

However, the Corn Refiners Association, the trade association representing corn syrup makers, said it would fight the allegations and described the lawsuit as filled with "false and unsubstantiated claims," the lawsuit said.

Named in the lawsuit were Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Cargill Inc., Ingredion Inc., Penford Products Co., Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas and Roquette America Inc.

"The plaintiff is seeking to profit by making claims that are contradicted by solid, credible research," John Bode, president of the Corn Refiners Association, told the News in a statement. "This lawsuit will confuse consumers and mislead them about how to make the right choices for a healthy diet."