Sucralose (Splenda): What You Need to Know - Safety & Production

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener generally recognized as safe by the FDA. It is marketed as Splenda by McNeil Nutritionals, LLC. It is usually sold in yellow packets.

History

• Surcralose was discovered in 1976 by researchers at Tate &Lyle PLC and approved in 1988 for use in the United States.

How Splenda Is Made

• Sucralose is made by re-arranging sugar molecules and placing three chlorine atoms into the new arrangement. This backs up the claim "Made From Sugar."

Other Artificial Sweeeners

• Other artificial sweeteners include aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet), saccharin (Sweet 'n Low) and acesulfame potassium (Sunette). Acesulfame potassium is also called "acesulfame K" because the letter K is the chemical symbol for potassium.

Fun Fact

• Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar.

Considerations

• Artificial sweeteners don't have any significant effects on metabolism or blood sugar. Phenylketonurics should limit their intake of aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal).