If it's Wednesday, that means another change at Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), right? Reuters is reporting that SBUX is "reworking 90 percent of its baked goods." The latest move by the caffeine king is to start selling baked goods without high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors and dyes. The company will also introduce salads and other items -- nothing like a coffee and some salad, right?

According to Michelle Gass, SBUX's executive vice president of marketing, "Food has been the Achilles' heel of the company. [...] That statement will be long buried after we launch this program." The new campaign from SBUX will be promoted as "Real Food. Simply Delicious." and is an extension of last year's healthy campaign.

I am amazed by my fellow mothers' equanimity. Here are the headlines, and they are coming steadily, dropping bit by bit over the days:

• Mercury found in a third of products with high-fructose corn syrup
• Peanut butter recall expands to Lärabar and CLIF Kid Organic ZBaR products
• Care for some mercury with your oatmeal?
• Whole Foods Market recalls "Whole Foods Carob Energee Nuggets"

What I expect is this: mothers will rise up en masse, toting signs and babies, marching on Washington, D.C. and Battle Creek, demanding that manufacturers start putting better ingredients in our food, and while they're at it, have the FDA take more accountability. And stop spending our tax dollars to subsidize the industry that's creating a health crisis in our country by pushing cheap sweeteners into everything!

When I was writing about Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ:JSDA) and their announced switch to sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup as sweetener, I didn't read all the way to the end of the Wall Street Journal [subscription required] story. I should have, though, as it's really the big news.

PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) funded a study on high fructose corn syrup, which indicates that sugar and high fructose corn syrup have nearly the same effect on the body, and found no difference in the way the two substances contribute to weight gain. (The study is being written up for submission to a journal by researchers at UC Davis.) Pepsi is promoting this study heavily and said in response to Jones' move, "To say cane sugar is healthier than HFCS just isn't true. Marketing a myth for a competitive advantage is irresponsible and short-sighted."

But. But! Pepsi is working on some versions of its most popular sodas, including Sierra Mist and Pepsi itself, that contain sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup -- along with the removal of some preservatives and artificial colors. This news, reported by Beverage Digest magazine, seems at cross purposes with Pepsi's spokesman's claim.

If Pepsi is so sure high fructose corn syrup is safe -- and so interested in making sure consumers believe it -- why would it even dream of converting? Something tells me we haven't heard the end of Pepsi's evaluation of HFCS.

I may have mentioned a time or two that I avoid products with high fructose corn syrup. In fact, I avoid nearly all sodas because of that (in my opionion) toxic, terrible-tasting and generally unhealthy ingredient. While some scientists hem and haw, I subscribe to the theory that high fructose corn syrup is one of the major causes of obesity and the increase in diabetes in our country.

So. I don't drink it, even though I'd love to be a regular quaffer of Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ:JSDA)'s quirky flavors. I reviewed the company's "Love Potion #6" Valentine's Day beverage back in February and thought the taste was lovely, but the presence of high fructose corn syrup ruined the experience for me.

Today Jones announced they'll be switching to cane syrup in favor of the processed HFCS. And I'd just like to say that I'm really, really happy. CEO Peter van Stolk says this "truly differentiates Jones and provides the consumer with a healthier alternative" -- I couldn't agree more. Finally I have a widely available (Jones Soda is sold in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) stores, among others), interestingly-flavored soda that doesn't cause me major health concerns. I'll happily let my children drink Jones (in moderation, naturally) even though sweetened sodas are strictly forbidden in my household.

Now, if I can only pick a favorite flavor...

When my b-school buddy, Jaime, started working in the corporate strategy group at PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP), I knew the time had come: soon she'd somehow convince the company to change its ways and become healthy! Starting with that high fructose corn syrup that fills so many of the company's sodas and is (I insist) one of the leading causes of childhood obesity.

Imagine my surprise when I saw one of the front-page headlines for the Wall Street Journal today [subscription required]: "Pepsi Sales Force Tries to Push 'Healthier' Snacks in Inner City." No, it wasn't that scourge of sweetener, HFCS: it was chips. Especially those preservative- and saturated fat-packed Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Nacho Cheese Doritos. I can just see the orange fingers all over Chicago, now.

Company executives are using top-down tactics to push Baked Lays and other lower-fat options in the inner city. Already Pepsi is on my good list for having removed trans-fats (i.e. partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) from the company's chips. Chicagoans, though, are skeptical and the convenience stores where PepsiCo sales efforts are focused are reacting with the speed of dinosaur bones fossilizing. Or thereabouts.

Maybe customers aren't jumping all over themselves for Baked Lays. [And it's interesting to note that these efforts are all the work of outgoing CEO Steve Reinemund, who was relieved of leadership by Indra Nooyi earlier this week -- there's no telling what her plans regarding the healthy sales will be.] But I have an idea, Pepsi! Take out that high fructose corn syrup and replace it with some nice cane syrup, or something else far less chemically altered. Your customers won't notice. And boy will I buy your stock then.

As it is, nice effort. Keep up the good work Pepsi, I'd much rather have corporate efforts wasted (if indeed they are, as the WSJ suggests, beating the corporate head against the inner-city Chicago wall) on trying to convince customers to eat my healthier options than on, I don't know, spying on one another, or padding the pockets of tainted lobbyists. Ya know?

I may be the only one, though. Despite the mention, shares of PEP were down 13 cents today, to $64.78. It's worth mentioning that the stock is only a dollar or so from its 52-week high, and the three-year trend is nuthin' but up. Healthy just may be good for increasing the wealth in your pockets, as well as the pants that hold them.