 An overwhelming body of science supports the fact that sucralose has an excellent safety profile and is well-tested. The safety of sucralose is supported by more than 100 scientific studies conducted over a 20-year period. The safety of sucralose has been confirmed by leading medical, scientific and regulatory authorities around the world including; the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint (Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization) Expert Committee on Food Additives, European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food, Health Canada and Food Standards Australia/New Zealand.
Sucralose is safe for use as a food ingredient by the general population, including children and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. It is also suitable for people with diabetes, because it does not affect blood glucose or insulin levels.
Sucralose is made from sugar through a multi-step, patented manufacturing
process that selectively substitutes three atoms of chlorine for three
hydroxyl groups on the sugar molecule. Chlorine is present naturally in
many of the foods and beverages that we eat and drink every day ranging
from lettuce and mushrooms to table salt. This change produces a sweetener
that has no calories, yet is 600 times sweeter than sucrose.
Myth of the Month
Myth: Low-calorie sweeteners actually cause weight gain by increasing sugar cravings.
Fact: A number of studies over the years have determined that low-calorie sweeteners do not increase appetite, food intake or weight gain. In fact, the vast majority of scientific literature confirms the safety and benefits of using low-calorie sweeteners and low-calorie products for weight control and weight loss. For example, a team of researchers from Harvard spent two years investigating how the addition of a low-calorie sweetener to a multidisciplinary weight control program would affect obese women. They found the low-calorie sweetener not only helped with weight loss, but also with long-term weight maintenance. Another study, published in a recent issue of Pediatrics, discovered that overweight children could prevent further weight gain simply by walking another 2,000 steps a day and reducing their intake by 100 calories. This caloric reduction was accomplished by replacing full calorie foods and beverages with foods and beverages contains sucralose (or Splenda).
Low-calorie sweeteners can help assist people in their weight loss/control efforts because low-calorie sweeteners (such as sucralose) reduce overall calories in a food/beverage while maintaining good taste. However, low-calorie sweeteners (and the products that contain them) are not a magic bullet. Instead, low-calorie sweeteners are tools which can be incorporated into an overall healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and a balanced diet. The American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association and the American Heart Association, agree that reduced-calorie foods and beverages are a good option for those who want to control their weight and maintain a better lifestyle. A healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses. A recent review of research found low-calorie sweeteners may be one piece of the puzzle in helping solve the obesity problem. The authors point out that low-calorie sweeteners are not appetite suppressants and they do not cause weight loss, but “… they have been shown to be associated with some modest weight loss….”
So have some sucralose with your coffee. It will do your body - and your waistline - good.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT SUCRALOSE
Fact: Sucralose is safe for all populations and has been well-tested
More than 100 scientific studies conducted and thoroughly evaluated over a 20-year period demonstrate that sucralose has an excellent safety profile and is suitable for everyone. It is one of the most extensively tested food ingredients ever introduced, and has an exemplary safety record throughout the world.
Sucralose has been approved for use in more than 80 countries and by authorities including: the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives, the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Union, Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia/New Zealand.
Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations have taken results from some animal studies out of context, to try to raise doubts about the safety of sucralose (e.g. highlighting the results of a study that was not designed to assess a particular health parameter, while ignoring the results of other studies that were).
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Fact: Sucralose is safe for people with diabetes
Numerous studies show that sucralose is not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate and has no effect on blood glucose control or insulin response. These studies included high-dose prolonged-use studies in normal individuals and in persons with diabetes. The FDA has concluded that the overall data on sucralose supports its safety for the general population, including people with diabetes.
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Fact: Sucralose can be helpful in a weight reduction program
No-calorie sweeteners can be one tool in a healthy, balanced weight reduction plan. The US Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines recommend consumers choose beverages and foods that moderate their intake of sugars. Products sweetened with sucralose can help consumers achieve this goal. People who want to lose weight must consider many factors, including exercise, overall diet and psychological, cultural and emotional factors.
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FACTS ABOUT SUCRALOSE SAFETY
Sucralose has been thoroughly studied and enjoys an exemplary safety record throughout the world. Below is a sample of some of the leading research that has been conducted on sucralose over the past 20 years. Safety studies show that sucralose is a safe and essentially inert ingredient. Conclusions from the studies include the following:
- No known side effects
- Not toxic: No adverse effects seen in test animals, even in amounts equivalent in sweetness to 40+ pounds of sugar per day for life
- No effect on carbohydrate metabolism
- No effect on short- or long-term blood glucose control or on serum insulin levels: Sucralose is suitable for people with diabetes
- No calories or carbohydrate: Sucralose is not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate and is not hydrolyzed or otherwise broken down for energy
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HOW SUCRALOSE IS MADE
Researchers at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, discovered sucralose in 1976, during a collaborative research program with sugar producer, Tate & Lyle, PLC.
Sucralose is made by a patented, multi-step process that starts with sugar (sucrose) and replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms. This results in a stable sweetener that tastes like sugar, but is calorie-free.
After being discovered, sucralose was put through very extensive and thorough safety testing programs. More than 100 scientific studies were conducted over a 20-year period. Today sucralose is permitted in more than 80 countries.
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