Misconceptions you need to know about sweet corn

(Baonghean.vn) - Sweet corn is one of the simple and cool foods in the summer. However, recently, some information can easily lead to wrong conclusions about sweet corn. Here are some common misconceptions about this type of corn.

Sweet corn is one of the simple, clean, cool foods in the summer.

1. Most sweet corn is genetically modified:

Many people confuse “sweet corn,” the kind we buy to eat, with “field corn,” the mostly inedible kind that is used to feed livestock or make ethanol. Much of the latter is genetically modified, but sweet corn is not. Last year, only about 3 to 4 percent of sweet corn grown in the U.S. was genetically modified.

One way to avoid buying genetically modified corn is to buy organic corn, as organic food standards prohibit genetic modification.

2. Corn is high in sugar and makes you fat.

One ear of corn has about the same number of calories as an apple and less than a quarter of the sugar. That means sweet corn is one of the healthiest options. But don't think that buttered and salted corn is still healthy.

Sweet corn is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two biologically active substances that are very good for the eyes.

3. Processing corn causes loss of nutrients

In fact, antioxidant activity, which helps protect the body from diseases like heart disease and cancer, is enhanced when corn is processed.

4. Corn is not healthy at all.

Sweet corn is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two bioactives that are good for your eyes. A medium-sized ear of corn also adds 3 grams of fiber to your daily diet.

5. The best way to choose corn is based on the color of the corn kernels.

Although corn lovers often choose the variety of corn they like, the more important thing is that the corn is fresh. The color is not so important. Just avoid corn that has dried leaves and silk near the cob. If you poke a kernel, a white sap should ooze out to be fresh corn. To choose the freshest corn, avoid picking corn that is more than a day old.

In response to false rumors, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development officially confirmed that Vietnam does not grow genetically modified sweet corn.

Sweet corn variety grown in An Hoa, Quynh Luu. Photo: Thanh Nhan

Recently, some false information has claimed that the sweet corn currently sold on the market is genetically modified and has the risk of causing cancer. The Department of Crop Production said that Vietnam has about 50 varieties of corn, of which 16 varieties of genetically modified corn have been recognized. All genetically modified corn is yellow corn, used as animal feed.

Meanwhile, sweet corn is grown quite commonly in the North Central region. However, all of them are not genetically modified products.

According to the Vietnam Agricultural Genetics Institute, recently, not only sweet corn but also a series of strange products such as purple guava, purple longan, black tomatoes, etc. have been labeled as genetically modified. In fact, fruits with strange colors are just products of hybridization technology, selecting superior characteristics to stimulate the senses of consumers. Therefore, people can completely rest assured when using them./.

Thu Tra

(Synthetic)