Scientific experts around the world support the safety of sucralose and its role in reduced calorie products as part of the fight against rising obesity levels. Below are a few quotes about the benefits and safety of sucralose:
"There is adequate evidence, [for sucralose], that there are no concerns about mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, development or reproductive toxicity."
Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission on Sucralose, September 7, 2000
"In determining the safety of sucralose, FDA reviewed data from more than 110 studies in humans and animals. Many of the studies were designed to identify possible toxic effects including carcinogenic, reproductive and neurological effects. No such effects were found, and FDA's approval is based on the finding that sucralose is safe for human consumption."
FDA Talk Paper T98-16.
"The low-calorie sweeteners in the United States all underwent extensive testing before they were approved. Results showed that low-calorie sweeteners are safe for everyone, including children and pregnant women. Sucralose is the newest low-calorie sweetener on the market. Sucralose is not affected by heat and retains its sweetness in hot beverages, baked goods, and processed foods."
American Diabetes Association
"Sucralose (Splenda®) was approved by the FDA as a tabletop sweetener in 1998, followed by approval as a general purpose sweetener in 1999. Before approving sucralose, the FDA viewed more than 100 safety studies that were conducted, including studies to assess cancer risk. The results of these studies showed no evidence that these sweeteners cause cancer or pose any other threat to human health."
National Cancer Institute
For more information about sucralose visit:
Science and Health Organisations
- Health Panel Applauds Approval of New Sweetener
American Council on Science and Health, April, 1998 - Sugar Substitutes and Your Health
American Council on Science and Health - Position Statement on Sweeteners
Diabetes UK - Artificial Sweeteners
American Heart Association - Healthy Eating
British Nutrition Foundation - So You Want to Lose Weight – a guide to losing weight for men and women:
"Sugar can count for a lot of wasted calories especially if you have one or two spoons full in every drink. Three spoons is three portions from the ‘Fatty and sugary foods’ group so it quickly uses up your limit. Try to wean yourself off it or if you really need the sweet taste, try artificial sweeteners instead."
British Heart Foundation - Canadian Diabetes Association National Nutrition Committee Technical Review: Non-nutritive Intense Sweeteners in Diabetes Management
Canadian Diabetes Association, 2004 - Use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners
American Dietetic Association - Sweet Choices
Canadian Diabetes Association - Pregnancy: Keeping Yourself and Your Baby Healthy
American Academy of Family Physicians - Diabetes and Low Calorie Sweeteners
Diabetes – The Global Diabetes Community - Sugar Substitutes: Sweet Taste Without All the Calories
Mayo Clinic - Artificial Sweeteners: Do They Affect Blood Sugar Levels?
Mayo Clinic - Artificial Sweetener Questions and Answers
National Cancer Institute - Enjoy a healthy balance of foods in healthy proportions
National Obesity Forum - Sugar Substitutes: Americans Opt for Sweetness and Lite
Federal Citizen Information Center
Regulatory Authorities
- Aspartame, Sucralose and Acesulfame-Potassium
Canadian Food Inspection Agency - FDA Approves New High Intensity Sweetener Sucralose
US Food and Drug Administration, April 1, 1998
Product and Sweetener Information
- Sucralose Fact Sheet
International Sweeteners Association - Weight management, dental health, diabetes care
International Sweeteners Association - Low-calorie Sweeteners: Sucralose
Calorie Control Council - Can you eat sugar if you have diabetes?
About.com - Everything You Need to Know About Sucralose
International Food Information Council - Artificial Sweeteners
iVillage Network - SPLENDA® Tabletop Products
Splenda UK - SPLENDA® Products (for health professionals)
Splenda Professional - Artificial Sweeteners: Safe to Sweeten Up Your Day?
Yahoo! Health - Sweeteners
Understanding Food Additives - Sucralose - Calorie-Free Sweetener
Calorie Counter
General Information about Sucralose and Sweeteners
- Position of the American Dietetic Association: Use of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2004; 104 (2) pp. 255-275. - Dealing with Diabetes
Slimming World - Calorie-free sugar to be launched in the UK
Daily Mail - Your Life: A little sweetener
Daily Telegraph - Is anything as good as a hot cuppa with sugar?
Daily Telegraph - Chemical Cuisine: A guide to food additives
Nutrition Action Healthletter, Center for Science in the Public Interest - Sucralose: is it right for you?
Bodybuilding.com - Splenda Sucralose - an Atkins Sweetener
Bellaonline.com
Regulatory Approval
Sucralose underwent the European Food Safety Authority’s rigorous food additive approval process. In 2002 the EU Scientific Committee on Food completed its review of sucralose and published its opinion which concluded that there was an acceptable sweetener for general food use. The UK Food Standards Agency approved sucralose for use in the UK in May 2002. In 2005 sucralose was approved in all EU Member States.
Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission (PDF)
