The FDA and health organizations across the globe have continuously confirmed the safety of consuming sweeteners after decades of research and over a hundred verified studies.

Recent news reports covering the sweeteners category have spread misinformation and implied that Splenda Brand Sweeteners caused poor health effects.

Millions of consumers rely on Splenda as an important part of achieving their health goals, and they deserve accurate information, supported by sound science, so they can safely manage their personal health. We want our consumers to have all the facts so you can feel confident reducing added sugar intake that doesn’t compromise on taste, with Splenda, and achieve your health goals.

At Splenda, we are passionate about helping people live happier, healthier and longer lives by making it easier to reduce their sugar intake. We put sound science first and support efforts to truthfully educate consumers to enable your health options and success.

Below are some misperceptions and recent false claims about sucralose and Splenda – and the real, science-backed facts.

#1: FALSE CLAIM: I heard that sucralose and Splenda have been linked to DNA damage, cancer, and is genotoxic. Is this true? This is false.

Get the facts:

• Unfortunately, in an attempt to make headlines, Dr. Susan Schiffman, the author of a May 2023 article about a chemical compound called sucralose-6-acetate (“S6A”), falsely claimed that Splenda contains S6A and that after we consume Splenda, the sucralose in Splenda turns into S6A inside the body and causes DNA damage, gene damage, or is genotoxic. These claims are false. The article is not sound science, and its findings have no impact on the safety of Splenda.
• S6A, the compound tested in the May 2023 study, is not present in Splenda, and there is no scientific evidence showing it is produced when humans consume sucralose or Splenda. No conclusions can or should be drawn about Splenda Brand Sweeteners from this study for the simple reason that it did not analyze any Splenda Brand products or ingredients.
• Even if S6A were formed when humans consume sucralose, it does not translate to increased cancer risk in humans. A person would need to consume tens of thousands of cans of a typical sucralose-sweetened beverage in just a few hours to reach the lowest S6A exposure levels the recent study claimed cause an effect in vitro.
• On behalf of the European Commission (EC), the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) has re-examined the safety of the sweetener erythritol. The sweetener has once again been found to be safe. No evidence has been found that it is genotoxic and has an effect on blood sugar levels.¹

#2: FALSE CLAIM: I read that the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against using artificial sweeteners. Is it true that the WHO made this advisement? This is false.

Get the facts:

• Recent media coverage reported misleading headlines and information about the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance related to using sweeteners by publishing that the WHO warned or advised against the use of sweeteners. In contrast to media headlines, the WHO actually states:
  • In the short-term using low- and no-calorie sweeteners has a benefit on weight loss.
  • With a “low certainty” of evidence and a “conditional” recommendation, which means they were less than certain of the outcome of using their guidance; and without including any persons with prediabetes and diabetes in consideration, which represents nearly 50% of the American population, that they do not recommend the long-term use of non-sugar sweeteners to achieve weight loss or to avoid non-communicable disease.
• Splenda is a safe and effective alternative to sugar, is recommended every day by Healthcare Professionals to aid in weight loss and diabetes management, and using Splenda brand sweeteners to replace sugar along with diet and exercise is a formula to a healthier you.²

#3: FALSE CLAIM: I read that Erythritol is an artificial sweetener and it causes risk of heart attack and stroke. Is this true? This is false.

Get the facts:

• Erythritol is a plant-based sugar alcohol naturally found in fruits and vegetables.
• The human body also naturally produces it. People with pre-existing heart problems produce more erythritol naturally in their bodies.
• Recent media coverage suggested that consuming erythritol may cause an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The researchers recognized that the study’s findings are flawed because they only included people with pre-existing heart conditions in their study. This makes it inappropriate to conclude that consuming erythritol caused increased heart attack or stroke risk because the people in the study already had naturally elevated erythritol levels before the study began.
• While the study authors did appropriately acknowledge this study limitation, the media did not report this to you, and instead reported misinformation.
• When the EFSA re-examined erythritol, they also found no evidence that erythritol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and related diseases. An adequate daily intake (ADI) of 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight per day has been established.¹

The Calorie Control Council: “Discouraging the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners is at odds with the health and nutritional profile of half of Americans. Evidence indicates that low- and no-calorie sweeteners do not raise blood glucose or insulin levels and, when ‎used to replace sugar, can help lower carbohydrate intake, which is especially important for those managing pre-diabetes and diabetes. When used as intended, as a replacement for added sugar, low- and no-calorie sweeteners are useful tools for blood glucose management and are a viable sugar reduction strategy.³ ” See full statement here.

 

The International Sweetener Association: “Low/no calorie sweeteners have enabled this innovation and ultimately contribute to the creation of healthier food environments by allowing people to enjoy food and drinks with less sugar and fewer calories, while still meeting their taste preferences…it is a disservice to public health to not recognize low/no calorie sweeteners’ role in reducing sugar and calorie intake and aiding in weight control.” See full statement here.⁴