Bad news for corn starch... great news for us, or is it?

Before I went away I wrote about the back story to the fantastic BBC documentary 'The Men Who Made Us Fat'.

It concerned the use of high fructose corn starch which is a by-product of the American maize and wheat industry.

This sweet gloop is added in huge quantities to all sorts of processed food which is cited as the major reason for the increase in obesity around the globe - especially as it is also addictive and leads to craving for more.

Well it looks like Mother Nature may be fighting back.

Whilst we have been suffering monsoon conditions ever since the water companies introduced a hosepipe ban back in April, the reverse weather has hit the United States.

Month after month of drought has turned the great breadbasket of America's corn growing areas into dustbowls.

This has led to many farmers facing the decision of either harvesting stunted and wilted crops for little gain or just abandoning them in the field.

The US government warned last week that one third of the maize and soya bean crop was in poor condition and may be lost. It is reported that this may be the best case scenario with many states reporting much worse figures.

Of course this won't have an immediate effect on the supply of the dreaded corn syrup as there are huge vats of the stuff in storage, but it might make it a bit more expensive, so not so attractive to the food boys.

I hope it does prevent this disgusting slurry from being added to our food, but bad weather isn't good news.

The problem is that it isn't just corn and soya that is affected, and its not just America who have suffered.

The freak weather has affected some of the world's vital food producing regions, and many experts are predicting a global rise in the cost of food; and that will bring dire troubles for many of the poorest people.