Are artificial sweeteners too sweet to be good?

From saccharin to stevia, as the world increasingly turns to artificial sweeteners, we put a few to the test. While artificial sweeteners have zero calories as compared to sugar, toxicity studies for sweeteners are still under a cloud of controversy, writes Skhikha Sharma.

Saccharin

Brand name: Sweet ’N Low

Calories: 0

Found in: Drinks, canned goods, candy, diabetic products.

Health alert: In the US, saccharin is approved as a special dietary sweetener specifically for beverages and tabletop products, as long as specific maximum amounts are not exceeded.

Brand name: Splenda

Calories: 0

Found in: Fruit drinks, canned fruit, syrups.

Health alert: Sucralose received FDA approval in 1998, and although one study showed it may negatively impact the immune system, follow-up studies did not find such an effect.

Acesulfame potassium

Brand Name: Sweet One

Calories: 0

Found in: Beverages, gum, oral hygiene products, frozen desserts, chocolates.

Health alert: First approved by the FDA in 1988, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Aspartame

Brand name: Equal, NutraSweet

Calories: 0

Found in: Drinks, chewing gum, yogurt, cough drops, toothpaste.

Health alert: Approved by the FDA in 1981, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar. When ingested, it is broken down in the body, but not metabolised further. It is approved as a general purpose sweetener, but is dangerous for people with a genetic disorder called Phenylketonuria.

Stevia (Rebiana)

Brand names: Stevia, Truvia, Pure Via

Calories: 0

Found in: Diet drinks, yogurts. Health alert: Refined stevia products were approved by the FDA in 2008. However, toxicologists from UCLA have expressed reservations about Stevia.

This is part two of a two-part series.

From HT Brunch, October 5
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