Well!

Here is a copy of a letter I sent. You can see to whom and when.

January 7, 2007

Ocean Spray Consumer Affairs

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.

One Ocean Spray Drive

Lakeville-Middleboro, MA 02349

To Whom It May Concern:

When I was a child in Southern California, we had cranberry sauce with our Thanksgiving dinner. We could also buy cranberry juice. We liked it. Unless I’m mistaken it was Ocean Spray brand. And unless I’m mistaken again—and I’m sure I’m not—it contained no high fructose corn syrup. I’m also pretty sure your products back then (a long time ago) tasted good without hfcs. Yet today I cannot find any Ocean Spray cranberry product without that substance.

Sometimes my mother bought whole cranberries and made her own sauce. Sometimes I do the same. My mother did not add high fructose corn syrup and, of course, neither do I.

I am sure you can anticipate my questions. Why do you add it? Do you not know that hfcs is far from beneficial to the human body? Do you not know it is harder on the body than sugar? Yes, I know, we all are trying to cut down on our sugar intake, but replacing sugar or augmenting it with hfcs is not a help. Simply put, high fructose corn syrup is not good for people. I suggest you update your research on hfcs and the processes involved in its manufacture.

I’d like to buy your products again but, as things stand now, I just can’t, and although I’m only one, I am confident I’m not the only one in this country who wants to eliminate hfcs from her diet. I have found one brand of cranberry juice—not your brand, unfortunately—containing no hfcs. Thank goodness for that.

I would appreciate a response.

Thank you,

Carol Schiess

And I included my address.

I got a response, saying I was wrong about high fructose corn syrup and asking if I'd like a coupon for their products.

I said no.

Now I see that Ocean Spray has taken hfcs out of their cranberry juice. Finally. Good for them.

But they have not sent me a letter or in any public way acknowledged my help in their decision.

Hmph.