Fructose (also levulose) is a simple monosaccharide found in many foods. It is a white solid that dissolves readily in water. Honey, tree fruits, berries, melons, and some root vegetables contain significant amounts of the fructose derivative sucrose (table sugar). Sucrose is a disaccharide derived from the condensation of glucose and fructose. About 250M kg of crystalline fructose are produced annually. Crystalline fructose and high-fructose corn syrup are often confused as the same product. Crystalline fructose, which is often produced from a fructose-enriched corn syrup, is indeed the monosaccharide. High-fructose corn syrup, however, is usually a mixture of nearly equal amounts of fructose and glucose. Fructose is repeatedly mentioned as a health hazard due to namely its similarity with alcohol in the human body and digestive problems. The human liver also converts a large percentage of fructose into fat which increases the risk for the metabolic syndrome.

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