Splenda Side Effects
Although many studies point toward problems associated with the use of Splenda, an artificial sweetener, it is still widely used as a substitute for sugar. Is there truth to the claims or are they just empty rumors?
-
What is Splenda?
-
Splenda is the trade name for sucralose, which is derived from native sucrose. Splenda has been labeled as an artificial sweetener .
It was first approved as a safe additive to foods and beverages in Canada in 1991. The sweetener hit the American market in 1998. Sucralose has been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and can now be found in close to 5,000 food and beverage products.
-
Duke University Research Results
-
According to Consumer Reports website, a study conducted in 2008 by Duke University on the artificial sweetener known as Splenda returned some startling results.
According to the research group, Splenda was found to destroy beneficial intestinal bacteria and possibly interfere with prescription drug absorption. Many yogurts that claim to improve intestinal health because they contain active probiotic cultures actually also contain Splenda.
Japan's Research Results
-
According to testing conducted by Japan on a range of food additives which included dyes, antioxidants, and sweeteners (including sucralose) it was determined that artificial sweeteners induced DNA damage in gastrointestinal organs.
Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that more extensive testing should be conducted before declaring additives to be safe.
Additional Considerations
-
The Citizens for Health group, which is headed by attorney James Turner, filed a petition with the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2007, hoping for warning labels to become a requirement for foods containing Splenda.
The group has also been busy collecting consumer reports of side effects allegedly caused by Splenda.
Conflicting Results
-
A Sucralose Overview, which compiles the results of numerous test results has been written by Genevieve Frank of Penn State University. In this overview, the final result states that sucralose has been shown to be safe for public consumption without adverse results.
The overview does state that despite the results, the public remains skeptical. It is worth mentioning that many of the tests were conducted by McNeil Specialty, the same company that produces commercial sucralose.
Warning
-
Although Splenda is currently considered safe, there seem to be too many conflicting results to blindly accept the products available on our grocery shelves.
If nothing else, the mixed results of the tests should serve to raise public awareness and spur individuals to investigate additives and new products before accepting them.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "weekend's here" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Robert S. Donovan (Robert S. Donovan) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
