FARGO (KFGO-AM) - A federal judge is being asked to protect American Crystal Sugar Company from disclosing confidential documents in a federal lawsuit involving the sugar and corn syrup industries.
American Crystal is not part of the case, but the company was subpoenaed to provide documents that show how sugar beets are genetically-modified. Lawyers for American Crystal say the information wanted by corn syrup makers is confidential, irrelevant, or obtainable from other sources.
A federal lawsuit filed in California accuses corn syrup marketers of misleading consumers by claiming that sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are "nutritionally the same."
American Crystal C-E-O Dave Berg is also fighting an order to testify. American Crystal attorneys say Berg has no “first-hand” information, and that Berg’s testimony would consist of opinions, not facts.
Wahpeton, ND-based Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative is among those suing the corn syrup makers.