What’s plaguing the poor bees? Why are these creatures in 25 states leaving their hives and not returning? Whatever is making them part of a perplexing phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder?
"A German study blamed cellphones, but U.S. bee scientists say that theory is flaky. A Texas A&M bee biology professor blames bad corn syrup, but then why do some bees not fed this extract disappear as well?" 
So writes columnist Jim Landers of the Dallas Morning News in his thoughtful, insightful look at the perplexing matter.
I’m most intrigued by the possibility that mobile-phone radiation plays a part in unsettling these bees, but that theory has been debunked.
Another idea that appeals to me is that high-fructose corn syrup may be to blame.
Dr. Tanya Pankiw, who teaches bee biology at Texas A&M University in College Station, told Landers that back in 1997, "large numbers of bee colonies were lost because beekeepers fed them a type of high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener used in baked goods and soft drinks." This may be the case now, she told Landers.
Landers continues: "`The high-fructose corn syrup feed may have been responsible for some of the hives abandoned in Texas,’" she said. "They develop a fatal case of diarrhea and flee the hive to die."
Wow. HFCS gives the bees diarrhea and then they die? Pity these poor bees.
While doing research for my book SUGAR SHOCK!, I’d heard about bees being fed high fructose corn syrup these days, which evidently compromised the quality of the honey, but I didn’t know that the stuff is giving them the runs and killing them!
Read the intriguing Dallas Morning News column from Jim Landers.
…Darn, I just can’t get this out of my mind: HFCS could actually kill bees? If that’s the case, what does it do to humans?
FYI, I delve into the potential dangers and recent research about high fructose corn syrup on pages 87 to 93 of SUGAR SHOCK!, book, and I also discuss it on pages 50, 52, 83, 86, 125 and 307.