Are you sure it's "high" fructose syrup? There is a regular fructose syrup which is actually okay, in moderation. It's used in candies for its high boiling point and as a topping (pancakes) or in recipes because of its texture.

It's the "high" (highly processed) fructose corn syrup that is bad for us and can cause non-alchohol liver disease. Our bodies can process the regular fructose syrup but has trouble processing the high fructose syrup, thus causing liver damage.

That said, maple syrup has other nutrients and after having the real thing on pancakes, it's hard to go back.