We all get a little lazy when it comes to pancake syrup. It tastes almost as good as real maple syrup, minus the cost and the effort. Some people even like it better than genuine maple syrup. It's not hard to see why when you examine the ingredients. It's clear that the manufacturers wanted to create something cheap and addictive. And it totally worked.
The thing about creating something that looks like maple syrup is that it has to be the right color. For this, 4-Mel caramel coloring is used, and it's extremely dangerous. A known carcinogenic, 4-Mel has been getting some negative attention in California, where brands are required to label it. But if you're not in California, definitely be careful with your syrups. It's a great excuse to go out and splurge on your favorite maple syrup, anyway!