The papers, however, were specifically looking for mercury that was "lost" during the creation of caustic soda, at plants that literally use tons of mercury for this purpose. That is, the mercury is being added when the HFCS is made, not when the corn is grown. (One paper indicates that the four plants responsible are in GA, TN, OH, and WV.)
Switching to a better caustic soda process should eliminate the detectable mercury, regardless of the proximity to coal plants. And some food producers are doing so; as one of the papers points out: "No mercury was detected in the majority of beverages tested."
Switching to a better caustic soda process should eliminate the detectable mercury, regardless of the proximity to coal plants. And some food producers are doing so; as one of the papers points out: "No mercury was detected in the majority of beverages tested."