Chlorocarbons: The Potential Dangers of Sucralose

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The Potential Dangers of Sucralose

JoAnn Guest

Mar 25, 2005 16:47 PST

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Chlorocarbons: The Potential Dangers of Sucralose

http://mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm

 

There's a new artificial sweetener on the block and it is already

in a wide range of products (CLICK HERE to see list), some even sold

in health food stores and manufactured by nutritionally-oriented

companies.

But, is it PROVEN safe?

Does it provide any benefit to the public?

Does it help with weight loss?

Are there any long term human studies?

Has it been shown to be safe for the environment?

 

The answer to all of these questions is unfortunately a

resounding NO.

 

The artificial sweetener sucralose, which is sold under the name

Splenda™, is one of the up-and-coming " next generation " of " high-

intensity " sugar substitutes. It is non-caloric and about 600 times

sweeter than sucrose (white table sugar), although it can vary from

320 tp 1,000 times sweeter, depending on the food application. The

white crystalline powder tastes like a lot like sugar, but is more

intense in its sweetness.

 

How it is Manufactured

 

Sucralose is produced by " chlorinating " sugar (sucrose). This involves

" chemically " changing the structure of the sugar molecules by

substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups.

 

History

 

Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by researchers working under the

auspices of Tate & Lyle Ltd., a large British sugar refiner. In

1980, Tate & Lyle arranged with Johnson & Johnson, the world's

largest health care company, to develop sucralose. Johnson & Johnson

formed McNeil Speciality Products Company in 1980 to commercialize

sucralose.

 

 

In 1991, Canada became the first nation to approve the use of

sucralose.

 

 

In April, 1998 the US Food and Drug Administration granted approval

for sucralose to be used in a variety of food products (CLICK HERE

for complete list of products using sucralose). Diet RC cola was the

first US product with sucralose, introduced in May 1998.

 

 

Sucralose is not yet approved for use in most European countries,

where it is still " under review " .

 

Safety Concerns

 

Few human studies of safety have been published on sucralose.

 

One small study of diabetic patients using the sweetener showed a

statistically " significant increase " in glycosylated hemoglobin

(Hba1C),

which is a marker of long-term blood glucose levels and is

used to assess glycemic control in diabetic patients.

 

According to the FDA, increases in " glycosolation " in hemoglobin imply

lessening of control of diabetes.

 

Research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems

in rats, mice, and rabbits, such as:

 

Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)

 

Enlarged liver and kidneys.

 

Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus

 

Decreased red blood cell count

 

Hyperplasia of the pelvis

 

Aborted pregnancy

Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights

Diarrhea

 

According to one source (Sucralose Toxicity Information Center),

concerning the significant reduction in size of the thymus

gland, " the manufacturer claimed that the sucralose was unpleasant

for the rodents to eat in large doses and that starvation caused the

shruken thymus glands.

 

[Toxicologist Judith] Bellin reviewed studies on rats starved under

experimental conditions, and concluded that their growth rate could

be reduced by as much as a third without the thymus losing a

significant amount of weight (less than 7 percent).

 

The changes were much more marked in rats fed on sucralose.

 

While the animals' growth

rate was reduced by between 7 and 20 percent, their thymuses shrank

by as much as 40 percent. (New Scientist 23 Nov 1991, pg 13) "

 

A compound chemically related to sucrose, 6-chloro-deoxyglucose, is

known to have anti-fertility and neurotoxic effects.

 

According to the FDA's " Final Rule " report,

 

" Sucralose was weakly " mutagenic " in a mouse lymphoma mutation assay. "

The FDA aslo reported other tests as having " inconclusive " results.

 

Just how few studies currently exist on sucralose is an issue.

 

Endurance News provides the following table illustrating this fact:

 

Sweetener # of Studies*

 

Saccharin 2374

Aspartame 598

Cyclamates 459

Acesulfame-K 28

Sucralose 19

 

*Number of studies determined by MEDLINE search.

 

In terms of safety, it is not just the original substance

(sucralose) that one needs to worry about.

 

As the FDA notes, " Because sucralose may hydrolyze in some food

products...the resulting " hydrolysis products " may also be ingested by

the consumer. "

 

Is There Any Long-Term Human Research?

 

None. According to the Medical Letter on Drugs & Therapeutics, " Its

long-term safety is unknown. " According to the Sucralose Toxicity

Information Center, the " Manufacturer's '100's of studies' (some of

which show hazards) were clearly inadequate and do not demonstrate

safety in long-term use. "

 

Is Sucralose Absorbed or Metabolized?

 

Despite the manufacturer's claims to the contrary, sucralose is

significantly absorbed and metabolized by the body. According to the

FDA's " Final Rule " report, 11% to 27% of sucralose is absorbed in

humans, and the rest is excreted unchanged in feces.

 

According to the Japanese Food Sanitation Council, as much as 40% of

ingested sucralose is absorbed.

 

Plasma sucralose has been reported to have a half-life of anywhere

from 2 to 5 hours in most studies, although the half-life in rabbits

was found to be much longer at about 36 hours.

 

About 20% to 30% of absorbed sucralose is metabolized.

 

Both the metabolites and unchanged absorbed sucralose are excreted in

urine.

 

The absorbed sucralose has been found to concentrate in the liver,

kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. According to The Sucralose

Toxicity Information Center, sucralose is broken down " into small

amounts of 1,6-dichlorofructose, a chemical which has not been

adequtely tested in humans. "

 

Chlorinated Pesticides

 

According to Consumers Research Magazine " Some concern was raised

about sucralose being a " chlorinated molecule " .

 

Some chlorinated molecules serve as the basis for pesticides such as

D.D.T., and

accumulate in body fat. However, Johnson & Johnson emphasized that

sucralose passes through the body unabsorbed. "

 

 

Of course, this assertion about not " being absorbed " is complete

nonsense.

 

As shown above, a substantial amount of sucralose is

absorbed, so the argument is not " valid " .

 

 

According to the HAD, " The manufacturer claims that the chlorine

added to sucralose is similar to the chlorine atom in the salt

(NaCl) molecule. That is not the case.

 

Sucralose may be more like ingesting tiny amounts of " chlorinated

pesticides " , but we will never

know without long-term, independent human research. "

 

Contaminants

 

The FDA acknowledges that sucralose " is produced at an approximate

purity of 98%. " While that may sound pretty pure, just what is in

that other 2%?

 

It turns out that the final sucralose product contains small amounts of

potentially dangerous substances such as:

 

 

Heavy Metals (e.g., Lead)

Arsenic

Triphenilphosphine Oxide

Methanol

Chlorinated Disaccharides

Chlorinated Monosaccharide

 

Although manufacturing guidelines do specify limits on these

substances there is no guarantee that such limits will always be met.

 

Environmental Concerns

 

Despite the fact that a portion of sucralose is metabolized into

some chemicals of questionable safety, a majory of the consumed

sucralose is excreted unchanged in the feces and urine.

 

While that may be good for the person using the product, it may not be

so great for the environment.

 

Although sucralose is being flushed down toilets wherever sucralose

is approved for sale, what happens to it next is simply a matter for

speculation.

 

I know of no studies showing what happens to the chemical when the raw

sewage is treated and then released back into the environment.

Does it remain stabile or react with other substances to form new

compounds?

 

Is the sucralose or any resulting chemicals safe for the environment?

 

How will this chemical affect aquatic life such as fish, as well as

other animals?

Will sucralose begin to appear in our water supplies, just as some

drugs are beginning to be found.

 

Of course, we will likely not know the answers to these questions

for many years, if at all.

 

One of the main reasons for this is that the FDA did not require an

Environmental Impact Statement for

sucralose, because in their words, " the action will not have a

significant impact on the human environment. "

 

One study did find that sucralose is metabolized by microrganisms in

both the water and soil (Labare 94).

 

However, the ecological impact of this new chemical being introduced

into the environment is unknown.

 

Is There a Benefit for Consumers?

 

According to Consumers' Research Magazine, sucralose provides some

benefits for the corporations making and using it, but not for

consumers.

 

They state:

But are such foods truly beneficial and desirable?

 

Diabetics, weight watchers, and the general public might make better

food choices by selecting basic, rather than highly processed foods; for

example, apples, rather than turnovers;

or plain, rather than sweetened dairy foods.

 

They note that non-caloric artificial sweeteners are not replacing,

but rather supplementing conventional sweeteners.

 

They note that as of 1990 Americans were consuming an average of 20

pounds (sugar sweetness equivalency) of artificial sweeteners, and as

consumption of sugar-substitutes has risen so too has consumption of

sugar.

 

Does Sucralose Help with Weight Loss?

 

According to Consumers' Research Magazine " There is no clear-cut

evidence that " sugar substitutes " are useful in weight reduction.

 

On the contrary, there is some evidence that these substances may

" stimulate " appetite. "

 

Where is Sucralose Found?

 

In the United States, the FDA has granted approval for the use of

sucralose in 15 food and beverage categories: (For a complete list

of products containing sucralose CLICK HERE)

 

 

Baked goods and baking mixes

Chewing gum

Confections and frostings

Fats and oils (salad dressings)

Fruit and water ices

Jams and jellies

Processed fruits and fruit juices

Sweet sauces, toppings and syrups

Beverages and beverage bases

Coffee and tea

Dairy product analogs

Frozen dairy desserts and mixes

Gelatins, puddings and fillings

Milk products

Sugar substitutes

 

For a complete list of products containing sucralose CLICK HERE

Comparison to Other Sweeteners

 

 

 

Saccharin (Sweet-and -Low) - 300 to 500 times sweeter

Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) - 150 to 200 times sweeter

Acesulfame K (Sunette) - 200 times sweeter.

 

Big Business

 

A 1998 report in Chemical Week states that the high-intensity

sweetener market is about $1.5-billion/year. About 70%-80% of that

market is made up of soft drink sweeteners, of which aspartame has a

near monopoly.

 

They note that although sucralose is 50% sweeter than

aspartame, it will be difficult to persuade many soft drink

producers to give up NutraSweet (aspartame) since it is widely

accepted by consumers.

 

Is Anyone Monitoring Post-Approval Reactions?

 

Apparently not.

 

With no established system for monitoring and tracking post-approval

adverse effects, how can it ever be established whether large-scale and

long-term consumption of sucralose is safe?

 

Technical Information

 

Sucralose is made from sucrose by substituting three chlorine atoms

for three hydroxyl groups to yield 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-BETA-D-

fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside.

 

This is accomplished in a five-step process.

Prolonged storage, particularly at high temperatures and low pH,

causes the sucralose to break down into 4-chloro-4-deoxy-galactose

(4CG) and 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxyfructose (1,6 DCF),

 

The Chemical Abstracts Service Registry number (CAS Reg. No.) for

sucralose is 56038-13-2.

 

Science Behind Sucralose Toxicity

 

Much of the concern is related to the fact that the manufacturer of

sucralose claims that it is derived from sugar that contains the

monosaccharide sucrose.

 

Look at the chemical name of sucralose:

 

1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-

beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside.

 

One would have expected that a product " made from sugar " as they say

on the box, would be called:

 

1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopy\

ranoside.

 

 

Why does this molecule contain a chlorinated galactose moiety rather

than a chlorinated glucose moiety if it is made from sucrose?

 

When the molecule is hydrolyzed, chlorinated monosaccharides are

produced from the product.

 

Could it be that sucrose is not used due to the " toxicity " of

" chlorinated " glucose?

 

Should Sucralose be Avoided?

 

The Holistic Medicine Web Page cites the following reasons to avoid

sucralose:

Pre-approval tests indicated potential toxicity of sucralose.

 

There are no *independent* controlled human studies on sucralose

(similar to 15 years ago for aspartame).

 

There are no long-term (12-24 months) human studies of sucralose's

effects.

 

There is no monitoring of health effects.

 

It took government agencies decades to agree that there were countless

thousands of deaths from tobacco. Why?

 

Simply because there had been no monitoring or epidemiological studies.

Without such monitoring and studies, huge effects can easily go

unnoticed.

 

Do Products with Sucralose Carry Any Warning Labels Or Information

Statements?

No. The regulatory agencies and scientific review bodies that have

endorsed the safety of sucralose have not required any warning

information to be placed on the labels of products sweetened with

sucralose.

 

Conclusions

The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center concludes that:

 

 

While it is unlikely that sucralose is as toxic as the poisoning

people are experiencing from Monsanato's aspartame,

it is clear from

the hazards seen in pre-approval research and from its chemical

structure that years or decades of use may contribute to serious

chronic " immunological " or " neurological " disorders.

 

The Consumer's Research Magazine concludes that:

 

As Americans continue to choose ever-increasing amounts of such

foods and beverages, sweeteners may soar to higher consumption

levels.

 

The long-range health effects from such escalation need

careful evaluation.

 

Do additional approved sweetening agents truly contribute to good

health? Do they really meet special dietary

needs? Or, do they merely further encourage poor dietary choices?

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Recent Examples of What Splenda Can Do To You

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Dear Dr. Mercola,

 

I wanted to thank you for posting your article regarding sucralose,

and to inform you of my reaction to eating it today.

 

I bought a low-carb bar called " Ultimate Lo Carb " by Biochem at a

local health food store. I have been eating foods low in starchy

carbs and thought this might be a good snack bar.

 

Well, almost immediately after eating this I became nauseous. Then my

stomach starting cramping and I began dry heaving.

 

I wondered what could have caused this and decided to try and read

the label.

 

The only ingredient I did not recognize was " sucralose " .

 

So, I jumped on the internet and did a search for it and found your

article. In the meantime I was heaving and feeling even worse.

Well,

I am allergic to chlorine, as well as having a liver that doesn't

function very well (I take a natural supplement called " Lipogen " for

liver support as prescribed by my ND), and when I saw what you had

to say about sucralose, I figured that was what was causing it.

 

I kept feeling worse, and I decided I needed to get it out of my

system and took some ipecac (maybe not the best move, but the only

thing I could think of). By the time the syrup got into my stomach

the heaving was getting worse and intestinal distress was setting

in. It was like eating bad seafood.

 

I nearly died of food poisoning by crab legs a number of years back,

and this was the closest thing

to that feeling.

 

Finally everything in my system started coming out, and my body

didn't stop until my entire digestive tract was cleared out. I have

never reacted this violently to anything I have eaten except for

when I have had food poisoning.

 

Something needs to be done to get this product off the market.

 

I can't help but be convinced that the FDA takes payoffs. No ethical

person could approve the use of things like MSG (another thing I

cannot tolerate eating), which is classified by the FDA as an

excitotoxin and is known to be harmful to the central nervous

system. I will do everything to get people to read your article and

get the word out on the FDA's latest blunder.

 

Best,

Shelley Flis

 

 

Dear Dr. Mercola,

 

THANK YOU so much for your informative site! I am

currently " detoxing " from using sucralose after a terrible reaction.

It all began with purchasing a box of Splenda.

The changes (in my opinion) were " subtle " .

However, my family and friends noticed immediately.

I became withdrawn and disinterested in my usual hobbies. Everything

became

a " chore. " I was tired during the day, but couldn't sleep at night

either. I play flute which requires a quick mental process and

fingering skills to match but suddenly I was struggling to play.

Typing is difficult, as well.

 

During the past three weeks I noticed myself " zoning out. " I'd

become forgetful and moody. I thought perhaps it was the Splenda,

because that was the only thing different in my daily habits.

 

I quickly dismissed the thought - despite having experienced a

similar situation with Equal a few years back. I called it " Jekyl v.

Hyde Syndrome. " But it seemed I noticed the changes much quicker

with Equal than with Splenda.

 

I really suffered yesterday. I was an emotional wreck. I cried and

cried. I felt like I was losing my mind. My husband and son

discussed my disturbing behavior while I was in the shower. Our son,

Tim, recalled that the changes began with that little yellow box.

Steve, (my husband,) mentioned it to me. Little by little, things

fell into place, including the unexplainable accident I recently had

in our truck.

 

I had just stopped at a stop sign and the trooper said that I

couldn't have been going over 15 miles an hour when I nearly rolled

our truck. Even he said that I narrowly escaped injury. I nearly had

a second accident last week.

 

My senses had become SO dulled, I could barely function.

 

I could not focus on anything. Even playing my flute was so hard. I

normally stand to play, but for the past two weeks at practice, I

sat a lot. I felt " dazed. "

 

This morning, I feel MUCH better than I have in the recent weeks.

Not quite " normal, " but much better. Even the acne (on my otherwise

clear skin) is fading away. Yep! I had a patch of acne, which

appeared when I began using Splenda!

 

How many people are suffering from what appears to be diseases - or

even acne, when it is simply a reaction to a chemical they are

ingesting? If companies were forced to list the ingredients of these

products, such as arsenic, they'd sure be a lot more careful! I

mean, who would intentionally poison themselves?

 

Sincerely,

Debby Fazekas

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Dear Dr. Mercola,

 

Four years ago I began to have panic attacks and was on BuSpar for

about a year. I started reading about aspartame and consumed the

product daily -- mostly in diet drinks and was a big consumer of

Diet Rite. After learning about problems other people were having I

quit completely consuming the stuff. And have been panic free for 3

years.

 

In December I started using splenda and at the same time started

having a great deal of anxiety and had a couple of panic attacks but

didn't think about the link of Splenda and the anxiety until about a

week ago.

 

I also had my mom visiting and introduced her to Splenda --

guess what -- she started having panic attacks during her visit and

actually cut her visit short due to her feeling bad.

 

I haven't consumed anymore of it for a week but am still having

problems. Oh, I also was having an irregular heart beat which I did

see my doctor about. He assured me that my blood pressure was

excellent and cholesterol also good and I shouldn't worry about my

heart.

 

I consume very little to no caffine. Local doctors don't put much

faith in the idea that Nutra Sweet caused problems. I'm sure my new

theory about Splenda would carry even less weight. By the way, I

have a very stess-free life-style. I run my own little business and

set my own hours. I don't believe my environment is causing any

irregular stress.

Susie

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I found this website while researching the new sweetener SPLENDA, a

sweetener

included in the DIET ICE BOTANICALS drink made by Talking Rain

Beverage Co., Preston WA. 98050 Ph. 1-800-734-0748,

WWW.TALINGRAIN.COM, currently sold at SAMS warehouse club.

 

The shocking thing I read at the end of your article on this is the

Food Poisoning like symptoms. I've probably drank about 30 -16oz

bottles of the stuff, which supposedly contains St, Johns Wort, Kava-

Kava, and Ginseng, among other " good " things for you. My son has

been sneaking a few bottles to past Mom, despite my apprehension.

 

We both came down with a similar food poisoning which lasted nearly

10 days for him, and is going on day 3 for me, and I'm throwing the

stuff out today.

 

Thanks for your information,

 

 

x6-

 

 

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Dear Dr. Mercola:

 

Thank you so much for your webpage. I recently drank my first bottle

of Virgin Diet Cola, and experienced a mind-numbing headache. I was

literally seeing spots. I read the label, thinking there must be

something crazy in the cola. The one ingredient I didn't recognize

was " Sucralose. " My husband, a doctor, said he'd never heard of the

ingredient either.

 

After having read your site, I've cleaned my cupboards of Pure

Protein bars, which I had no idea contained this deadly chemical,

and, needless to say, will NOT be purchasing any of the other

products you've listed. Thank you for your thorough research and

intelligent, accessible data.

 

Best -- Megyn Cotner

 

 

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Dr. Mercola,

 

I was horrified to read some of the letters on your website. I was

excited at first to find an artificial sweetener that did not give

me Migraines like Aspartame (which also caused some depression).

Although I did not use it a lot, after about 6 months of OCCASIONAL

use, I detected a pattern in my Splenda use and severe altered

emotional state. I became irate, impatient, hyper-sensitive to

noise, clutter and children. I really thought this was a mental

breakdown, or spiritual attack of some sort. These episodes only

came periodically, but they really scared me. Then I noticed a

pattern - use of sucralose, followed in hours (or the next morning)

by one of these events (lasting 3 to 5 hours). What a relief! I'm

not really going nuts - and I can fix this, by never using the

product again. What really upsets me is that how many people are

suffering and will NEVER make any connection.

 

How many doctors are treating these people with anti-depressants?

How many body-conscious teenagers are committing suicide because of

this severe alteration of emotional function? I realize that not all

people have the same symptoms, but I would really like to join a

support group, or get involved in a chat room or join a campaign and

GET THE INFORMATION OUT!!!

 

I also would be interested in knowing if there is any information on

exactly what component of Sucralose affects the brain/nervous system

and causes altered emotional states.

 

Thank you,

Lugene Azar

 

 

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I was looking up the sweetener Sucralose which is in ACTII kettle

corn. I was trying to find out if it was the same as nutra sweet or

aspertine. Whenever I eat anything that has that in it, I get pains

in my leg and knee. I can not sleep because of the pain, it hurts to

walk up the stairs and so on. The pain will go away when I stop

eating anything with that in it, within one to two weeks. I had a

friend who got pain all over her body after drinking diet soda.

 

Thanks,

Elizabeth Romel

 

 

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I wish to share with the medical field the terrible reations I

experienced after eating the product " splenda " .

 

I do not know who to tell, but I do feel it is important.

 

I am not diabetic; however, I had two good friends come to dinner,

and they brought this big " yellow box of Splenda " ...my life, my

health was so messed up for the next week I didn't know what was

wrong.

 

I am healthy. I am 44, in great health, 125 pounds, no medicine

presc. at all...and yet the morning after I ate this

product " Splenda " I was in terrible, terrible pain.

 

I only ate it, because I cooked two pies for my diabetic friends.

 

The next 6 days were full of such excruciating pain, I hated to have

to go to a doctor but I had to. I cried, the pain in my chest hurt

so much.

 

I want someone that is doing research on this product to understand

it really can hurt healthy people, without their knowing it.

 

I thought I had a heart problem. Forturnately it was a reaction to

this product; yet the doctor I saw that ran all kinds of tests,

never asked me if I had " ate " anything new!!!!

 

If I can provide you with anything else I would be pleased to; I

don't want anyone else to have to experience the terrible pain in

the chest that I did. It was " EXCRUCIATING " ...no doubt about it.

 

Cynthia Nelson

 

 

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You can add me to the list of people who have had a bad experience

with sucralose. I purchased and ate a bag of jelly beans yesterday

afternoon.

 

No carbs sounded wonderful, and they really did taste great, so I

grabbed another bag on my way home

 

Unfortunately, a couple of hours later, I started experiencing food

poisoning-like symptoms. It was clear to me that my system is trying

to rid itself of something, so I looked at the packaging of the only

thing I ate last night and found your web page. I was up all night

and my normally flat and trim tummy is distended to the point that,

when I lay on my back, I look seven months' pregnant!

 

I am grateful I now know what is causing my discomfort -- I will

definitely avoid this product at all costs when shopping for my

family!! Thank you for an informative article!!

 

Karen

Fort Lauderdale

 

 

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Dear Doctor Mercola,

 

I'm not expecting an answer to my email, however I do want to say

thank you. After reading your site I am certain now that I was

poisoned by Splenda. I knew I was poisoned and I knew it

wasn't " food poisoning " from a bacteria. The pain in my body was

definitely neurological. I am still experiencing some of the pain

and am flushing my Splenda down the drain today. The pain was

excruciating, in every part of my body. I am a nurse and I knew

instantly that I was experiencing neurological symptoms. I had

diarrhea for 3 days also. I came very close to calling 911. I am a

53 year old female in excellent health. These symptoms hit me like a

brick very quickly. My blood pressure sky rocketed and I almost fell

on my face in a parking lot. I'm on my way now to whole foods to

purchase some granular vitamin c to detoxify my body. You saved my

life. Thank you again for your information.

 

Sincerely,

 

Gypsie Mahrou, RN

Houston, Texas

 

 

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Hello,

 

I've just been reading up on sucralose because I realized just this

past week that I've been having a bad reaction to a product I've

been using since December - Splenda. I started using Splenda in my

coffed and tea since late December and shortly after I began itching

in various place on my body and bright red rashed and welts appeared

as well. It seemed to be the worst in the evening and only a little

in the day. I didn't relate it to the Splenda at all, but I had my

coffed in the morning, two cups, the second I rarely finished, and I

would have two to three cups of hot tea in the evenings. I finally

saw my doctor in March and after seeing my rash and how badly I

itched and hearing what I discribed, he told me that I was allergic

to something I was ingesting. I still didn't put it together, at

least I didn't want to.

 

I knew that Splenda was the only thing I had changed and had still

been using since the itching started, but I didn't want to go back

to sugar and the other substitutes weren't options for me because of

the aspertame. Splenda " had " to be alright since it was made from

sugar, I thought. The doctor put me on some medication to stop the

itching and clear up the rash. While I took it for a week and½, the

itching stopped. The rash would still be visible, but now it just

looked sort of like it was underlying the skin, as if it were just

dormat. Two weeks after my first doctor visit, I had a follow-up and

the doctor said I looked fine and to see him again in three months

just to make sure, unless, of course, it started again.

 

Well, it did start again, that very night, in fact. I itched and

itched. I waited a few days, but the itching got so bad, I took some

of the medication that I still had, since I hadn't used it up. I

would just take it at night so I could sleep and then only every two

or three days so the pills would last until I could get to the

doctor again. The rash would still appear and it would be that very

bright red color, different size spots and some odd shapes as well.

Sometimes I would get streaks. One day last week I had two streaks

going up my neck side by side, each almost as wide as my finger and

at the base of my neck a large red splotch.

 

Wednesday night the itching was terrible again and I finally gave in

to the inescapable fact that Splenda had to be the root of this

problem, so I stopped using it in my tea that night, and have not

used it in anything since. I have still had the rash appear

periodically as before, but not as often and not so bright red, no

welts appear, and I have not been itching nearly as much or as

badly. I'm guessing that it may take time for the stuff to get out

of my system completely. I guess I am writing this to you to have my

experience with Sucralose documented in some way, even if it's just

an email. I would love to know, though, if you know of anyone else

who has had a similar experience. Thank you for taking the time to

read this.

 

Marcia

 

 

---

-----------

 

I just want to thank you guys, as without your Web site I'd be in

the mental ward right now! I'm a big coffee drinker, but my family

has a history of diabetes so I decided I should cut out the sugar I

add to my coffee.

 

Well, I switched to using Splenda in my coffee about two months ago.

Now I'm no wimp, and I'm not a health nut or anything like that! I'm

a former football player, a vice president with a major banking

institution and kind of a tough guy. Let me put it this way--the

last time I cried was when the Green Bay Packers won the Superbowl!

 

So, anyway, I was using Splenda and I started getting withdrawn, had

trouble focusing, and started to have problems with frustration.

Gradually, I became more and more depressed. I thought it was stress

or my job, something like that.

 

Well, last Thursday I completely fell apart! My girlfriend came over

and found me crying uncontrollably for no reason, and all I could

say was, " I'll be OK. " She couldn't get me to move, she couldn't

talk me down and I could not tell her what was wrong!

 

She was shocked as I had never done anything even remotely like this

before and so she made me go to the hospital. The doctors there we

so concerned about my condition they wanted to check me into the

mental-health ward.

 

Being the way I am I refused but agreed to come back the next day

and see a psychiatrist, which I did and he put me on a huge dose of

Effexor. That night I was on the Web and for some unknown reason I

did a search for Splenda and found the www.mercola.com Web site.

 

When I read your information on Splenda I was shocked--I simply had

no clue! I am now 99.9 percent convinced that my mental health

issues were a direct result of using Splenda. I even had the stomach

cramps and chest pains that other people have mentioned after using

Splenda, but I dismissed them as panic attacks and stress.

 

So the next morning I got up and had some more Splenda and, low and

behold, I started feeling the symptoms of a deepening depression

again! It was clearly due to the Splenda, so I tossed it out.

 

I just want to say thank you. I would love to help get this product

off the market! By the way, I missed work because of my ordeal, so I

had to tell my boss about my problems and now I have to explain to

him that I'm not nuts or having a break down--how embarrassing!

 

Thanks again!

Steve G.

 

 

---

-----------

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

 

Don't let these large companies fool you. There is no magic

alternative to sugar when it comes to sweeteners. You simply can not

have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this area. It is far

too early to tell, as not enough people have consumed this product

to observe large numbers of adverse effects.

 

 

 

Sign Up for the Free

Mercola.com Newsletter

 

Over 170,000 people, including 25,000 health care professionals,

receive the newsletter twice a week, and 2 million pages are viewed

every month to help people find the answers to their health care

questions.

 

Your Email Address:

 

 

 

 

See What Others Are Saying About the Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, I have had a number of patients in our Wellness Center who

have had some severe migraines and even seizures possibly from

consuming this product.

 

My advice?

 

AVOID Sucralose.

 

I am fond of telling people that if something tastes sweet you

probably should spit it out as it is not likely to be to good for

you. This of course, is a humorous exaggeration, but for most people

who struggle with chronic illness, it is likely to be a helpful

guide.

 

PLEASE note this article is being written in 2000. This is one of

the first comprehensive clear investigative reports and warnings on

sucralose on the Internet.

 

Related Articles:

 

 

The Dangers of Chlorine and Issues With Sucralose

 

 

Sources:

 

Food and Drug Administration " Final Rule " for Sucralose, 21 CFR

Part 172, Docket No. 87F-0086.

 

Lord GH, Newberne PM. Renal mineralization -- a ubiquitous lesion in

chronic rat studies. Food Chem Toxicol 1990 Jun;28:449-55.

 

Labare MP, Alexander M. Microbial cometabolism of sucralose, a

chlorinated disaccharide, in environmental samples. Appl Microbiol

Biotechnol. 1994 Oct;42:173-8.

 

Hunter BT. Sucralose. Consumers' Research Magazine, Oct90, Vol. 73

Issue 10, p8, 2p.

 

Maudlin RK. FDA approves sucralose for expanded use. Modern

Medicine, Oct99, Vol. 67 Issue 10, p57, 1/9p

 

Sucralose -- a new artificial sweetener. Medical Letter on Drugs &

Therapeutics, 07/03/98, Vol. 40, Issue 1030, p67, 2p.

 

Q & A: Is newly FDA approved sweetener sucralose good for you?

Executive Health's Good Health Report, Nov98, Vol. 35 Issue 2, p6,

1p, 1c.

 

Gain B. FDA approves J & J Sweetener. Chemical Week, 04/15/98, Vol.

160 Issue 14, p27, 1/4p.

 

Sucralose Toxicity Information Center

 

Splenda Product Web Site

 

Official Tate & Lyle Sucralose Web Site

 

Endurance News, Issue 26.

 

http://mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

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mrsjoguest

Site Admin

 

 

Joined: 09 Sep 2003

Posts: 5972

Location: Computer

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject: Splenda

Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

 

--

 

 

" califpacific " <califp-;

Sat Oct 9, 2004 9:48 am

Splenda Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

 

 

 

http://www.mercola.com/2004/oct/9/splenda_anniversary.htm

 

Splenda Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

 

 

This year marked the fifth anniversary of Splenda No Calorie

Sweetener, also known as sucralose. Since it was first made available

in 1999 via the Internet, Splenda has been given the title of the

number one branded sweetener in the United States, finding its way

into nearly 20 percent of consumer homes. That is more than any other

panty staple food brand.

 

Splenda fans enjoy the product's versatility and are drawn to its

sweet taste. Splenda Franchise Director explains why people love the

product so much: " People have learned that they can have the best of

both worlds -- all the sweetness and taste they love, without the

calories. "

 

The newest member to join the Splenda brand family is Splenda Sugar

Blend for Baking, which is predicted to heavily hit the market during

the holiday season.

 

Consumers Sweet Addiction to Splenda:

 

*

 

Based on dollar sales, Splenda is now the leading branded

sweetener in U.S. homes. This means that its sales are ahead of those

of both Domino and C & H Sugar.

*

 

An astonishing 51 percent of Splenda's volume growth is from the

sugar category, which declined 4 percent in the most recent year.

*

 

The sweetener's dollar share of the low calorie sweetener

category is greater than those of both of its nearest low calorie

sweeteners combined.

*

 

5 billion Splenda packets are consumed each year. This equals

about 9,000 per minute.

*

 

It is approved for use in 79 countries.

*

 

Splenda No Calorie Sweetener is used in more than 4,000 products

worldwide.

 

Financial News September 22, 2004

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

All those great numbers and facts might lead you to believe sucralose

is a pretty safe product, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Animal research has shown that sucralose can cause many problems such

as:

 

* Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage)

* Enlarged liver and kidneys

* Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus

* Increased cecal weight

* Reduced growth rate

 

 

 

* Decreased red blood cell count

* Hyperplasia of the pelvis

* Extension of the pregnancy period

* Aborted pregnancy

Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights

* Diarrhea

 

If you think using Splenda is worth risking your health, than go ahead

and use it. Just keep this in mind: Nearly every month we receive a

report from someone who has had an adverse effect from Splenda.

 

The fact is, many people are uneducated about the reverse effect this

product can have on your health and body and find out only after they

experience a negative reaction.

 

For further information on Splenda you can review my " Splenda toxicity "

page and read through the many testimonials people have sent in about

this product.

 

Related Articles:

12 Questions You Need to Have Answered Before You Eat Splenda

 

Splenda is Not a " Healthy " Sweetener

-

 

Post subject: Aspartame, Splenda is a " Chlorinated hydrocarbon "

 

------

Apartame,Splenda=Chlorinated hydrocarbon;

Better to use Stevia

 

Dear Betty,

Continued sound bite education:

What so bad about chlorinated hydrocarbons and if they're not safe, why

does the FDA let it be approved for human consumption.

Thanks,

Dr. Sandra Lance, D.C.

 

 

____

Dear Sandra

 

I would simply say Splenda is a

" chlorinated hydrocarbon " and should not be used.

 

All my best,

Betty

 

At 02:07 PM 1/17/2005, DrLa- wrote:

Dear Betty,

Yesterday at the church dinner finally a few are begginning to take my

aspartame warnings seriously. What's the best sound bite response when

they

ask me

" What about splenda " ?

Having been concerned about diabetes for year with it being in my

family,

I'm not brainwashed into believing I need to use white sucrose or any

carcinogens such as Equal & Nutrasweet. It's just beyond me how people

are

willing to let a sweet tooth dig their graves after their estate plans

of

giving their hard earned after tax saved dollars to the medical

industrial

complex have been implemented.

 

Thanks,

Dr. Sandra Lance

<http://press.arrivenet.com/bus/article.php/560264.html>http://press.arrivenet.c\

om/bus/article.php/560264.html

 

 

-

" Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum. " <Bett-;

" Activist List- " <Activis- >;

Monday, January 17, 2005 1:21 PM

Splenda's confusing ad campaign - FYI

 

 

SPLENDA IS NOT SPLENDID!

-

 

 

Web Site: http://www.bowendrjim.com

E-Mail: ji-

 

SPLENDA IS NOT SPLENDID!

By James Bowen, M.D.

© 2003

 

http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/home/home_a.html

 

In a simple word you would just as soon have DDT in your food as

Splenda, because sucralose is a chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have

long been famous for causing organ, genetic, and reproductive damage.

 

It should be no surprise, therefore, that the testing of sucralose, even

at less than the level demanded by FDA rules, reveals that it has been

shown to cause up to 40% shrinkage of the thymus: A gland that is the

very foundation of our immune system.

 

It also causes swelling of the liver and kidneys, and CALCIFICATION of

the kidney.

 

Lying and deceit on the artificial sweetener issue has been the FDA's

Modus Operandi ever since Donald Rumsfeld broke everything decent in the

US government to put Aspartame on the market as a " contract on

humanity " . It has no commercial purpose other than a contract on

humanity.

 

Either they have done but little testing of sucralose, or they are so

afraid of what the public would think of sucralose, and the government

if the public but knew what was going on, that they will not tell us!

 

BECAUSE: we have been told nothing about the extensive studies which

would have to have been done if very reasonable, and scientifically

sound FDA rules had been followed.

 

Such study results as have been made known, catches the company in great

big whopper lies! When questioned about the Thymus shrinkage which would

disqualify sucralose forever, by the FDA's own rules, the company merely

said. " Well the rats wouldn't eat the food with sucralose in it, so the

thymus lost weight from starvation. "

 

The FDA allowed that explanation even though it was an admission that

the rats hadn't ingested the required amount of sucralose, but had

demonstrated immense damage anyway! In fact, if research animals won't

voluntarily eat the required dose of experimental substance it can be

given by gastric gavage, which is a common and well-known research

method. Moreover, the rats so fed were only 7-20% underweight Vs the

average for the control group. Rats who are severely starved to create a

30% weight loss, only shrink their thymus by an average of 7%.

 

The net conclusion from all this is, that both the thymus shrinkage and

the growth retardation caused by sucralose were enough to in each case

disqualify sucralose from the marketplace.

 

All of these KNOWN findings only pointed out that the testing was so

flawed that it could never be used as a basis for approval on one hand,

and that the effects which were detected anyway were so severe that

sucralose should never be allowed into the human body.

 

It should be classified right along with DDT, and dioxin as illegal to

even release into the environment much less put into your body!

 

The company blandly and heinously denied that sucralose is a

chlorocarbon.

 

They stated that it was merely a salt, like sodium chloride! That

whopper wouldn't even get past a sophomore chemistry student.

Facts, and concern for human welfare are obviously irrelevant in our

Bush dominated government, and the Rumsfeld dominated media.

 

What their incredulously lying statements about what sucralose is, did

bring to mind though, is that it flies in the face of what its known

breakdown product, 1, 6, dichloro, fructose, is:

 

Another highly toxic chlorocarbon.

 

They admittedly did not do toxicity studies on it, as FDA rules require,

or perhaps the findings were so dangerous that they felt it better to

confess to the " minor omission " , of not even complying with the law and

doing the required studies!

 

They further tried to side step the toxicity issue by saying " Sucralose

is not even absorbed from the digestive tract anyway, because it is

after all, a chlorocarbon. " :

 

Another bold faced lie.

 

Chlorocarbons are significantly absorbed from the digestive tract and

sucralose is no exception!

 

It is significantly absorbed from the GI tract. Of course, at that point

their lies had compounded and contradicted themselves.

 

What you need to know about sucralose is that it is of a class of

compounds which places it amongst some of the most dangerous chemicals

on earth.

 

The known studies, and science verify this fact.

 

Lies and dissimulations, which have been totally, and inexcusably left

unchecked by the FDA, point to gross governmental/corporate corruption,

and massive cover up and peril.

 

They say " Oh, It's just made from sugar, what could be more natural and

harmless. "

 

FAIR USE NOTICE

------

Splenda faces new lawsuit in US

--

 

Product News related to : Sweeteners

http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-ng.asp?id=57688-splenda-faces-new

 

 

28/01/2005 - The US sugar association files a lawsuit against McNeil

Nutritionals, the supplier of successful sweetener Splenda, following

swiftly on from a complaint in November by US NutraSweet supplier

Merisant.

 

 

This latest lawsuit, filed in December, hinges on “deceptive and/or

misleading representations”, made by the sweetener firm in

“advertisements and marketing terminology” to consumers, says the

association.

 

Merisant, the US maker of tabletop sweetener Equal and NutraSweet and a

competitor to Splenda, alleged in November that the product’s marketing

slogan,

“made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar,” had misled consumers into

thinking the artificial sweetener was “natural.”

 

But McNeil Nutritionals asserts that sucralose starts off as pure cane

sugar, and is then " chemically altered " in the manufacturing process to

create a new compound with zero calories and 600 times sweeter than

sugar.

 

-

 

Sugar alcohols are synthesised by the hydrogenation of sugar

--

 

 

 

http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-ng.asp?id=57651-cargill-meets-investment

 

 

27/01/2005 - Ingredients supplier Cargill targets the steadily growing

polyol branch of the sweeteners market, signing off over €76 million in

investments at plants in Europe and the US.

 

 

A nutritive sweetener, the billion euro market for polyols (sugar

alcohols) is growing at just under three per cent.

 

But further growth is expected for these sugar replacers, as health

concerns continue to push up overall demand for sweeteners in sugar-free

and low-calorie food products.

 

“The Blair (US) plant expansion adds new polyol hydrogenation and

finishing capacity, the first for Cargill in North America. This

expansion also includes increased fermentation capacity for erythritol

production,” says Cargill.

 

The Krefeld (Germany) and Castelmassa (Italy) expansions include new

hydrogenation and finishing capacity for maltitol, mannitol and isomalt,

the firm adds.

 

Although several sugar alcohols may naturally occur in various foods,

commercially-available sugar alcohols are synthesised by the

hydrogenation of sugars from various sources.

 

Cargill tells FoodNavigator.com that polyols are sugars to which one or

more molecular groups containing an oxygen and a hydrogen atom have been

added.

 

Hydrogenation is the process of reducing the sugar (for example, glucose

or dextrose) into other components.

 

The specific process of making polyols involves catalytic, or chemical,

hydrogenation, using Raney nickel as the catalyst.

 

 

 

_________________

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html