RE: Digest Number 808

[Guest guest]

Noel,

 

She should worry actually, just not panic.

 

read over the link that I sent too.

 

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Canada became the first nation to approve sucralose in 1991,67 soon to be

followed by many more. Currently, more than 40 nations have given their approval

to sucralose, although a number of European nations still have it under

preliminary review.68,69,70 The new product made a grand entrance into the US

market with FDA approval in 1998. Even though this was not full FDA approval, to

quote Splenda's own website, the product was " approved for use in 15 food and

beverage categories, the broadest initial approval ever given to a no-calorie

sweetener. " It was only 16 months later in 1999 when the FDA finished the job

and gave full approval for all sweetening purposes.71

 

According to the Splenda website, " sucralose, is made from sugar through a

patented, multi-step process that selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen

groups on the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms. The result is an

exceptionally stable sweetener that tastes like sugar, but without sugar's

calories. After consumption, sucralose passes through the body without being

broken down. " 72 Sucralose is also said to be diabetic-safe, as it does not

increase blood sugar levels. However, some researchers dispute these claims.

 

While the Johnson & Johnson Corporation claims that they have hundreds of

self-conducted studies demonstrating the product's safety, sucralose has the

fewest independent scientific tests to its credit of all non-nutritive

sweeteners. Additionally, independent reviewers of Johnson & Johnson's tests

have found them to be inadequate and methodologically flawed. Flaws

notwithstanding, several pre-approval tests still indicated potential toxicity,

although this was written off by the company as insignificant. Similar to the

situation with aspartame after it first entered the market, there are currently

no independent, long-term studies on the effects of sucralose consumption.73

 

Of the few human studies which have been conducted, one focusing on diabetics

using sucralose 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. " The FDA itself has stated

that " increases in glycosolation in hemoglobin imply lessening of control in

diabetes. " 74

 

It is not only diabetics who need worry about the safety of sucralose. Research

conducted with rats, mice and rabbits has shown that sucralose consumption can

cause shrinking of the thymus gland (up to 40 percent shrinkage), enlargement of

the liver and kidneys, atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus,

increased cecal weight, reduced bodily growth rate, decreased red blood cell

count, hyperplasia of the pelvis, extension of gestational periods in pregnancy,

decreased fetal body weights and placental weights, and diarrhea. According to

the FDA's " Final Rule " report on sucralose, it was considered to be " weakly

mutagenic in a mouse lymphoma mutation assay. " 75

 

The reason for this host of side effects is not fully understood. Many

detractors have raised concerns due to the fact that sucralose is a chlorinated

molecule. Chlorinated molecules, which are used as the basis for pesticides such

as DDT, tend to accumulate in body tissues. Johnson & Johnson maintains that

sucralose passes through the digestive system without any absorption or

metabolization, but the FDA's own research has shown that 11 to 27 percent of

sucralose is absorbed in humans, while the rest is excreted unchanged in the

feces. Tests performed by the Japanese Food Sanitation Council have found that

as much as 40 percent of ingested sucralose is absorbed. To further dispute the

manufacturer's claims, research indicates that about 20 to 30 percent of the

absorbed sucralose is metabolized. Both the metabolites and unchanged absorbed

sucralose are excreted in urine, but some absorbed sucralose has been found to

concentrate in the liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract.76

 

Not only does sucralose break down within the digestive system, but, as the FDA

notes, " [it] may hydrolyze in some food products...[and] the resulting

hydrolysis products may also be ingested by the consumer. " Prolonged storage,

particularly at high temperatures and low pH, causes sucralose to break down

into other chemicals, including 4-chloro-4-deoxy-galactose,

1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-fructose and 1,6-dichlorofructose, none of which has

ever specifically been tested in terms of safety for human ingestion.

Additionally, as the FDA again acknowledges, sucralose may contain up to 2

percent of various impurities, such as heavy metals, arsenic, triphenilphosphine

oxide, methanol, chlorinated disaccharides and chlorinated monosaccharides. Even

if these " impurities " are within existing manufacturing guidelines, they are

still all potentially dangerous to human health.77

[Guest guest]

Well, then maybe I should suggest she switch to Aspartame instead of using her

Splenda anymore. Of course she told me that Aspartame products contain

fermaldahide which is what they preserve you with when you die. I hope I spelled

that word right hehehe:) In any case, which is worse? Chlorine or embalming

fluid?

 

Noel

 

 

 

Message: 5

Thu, 15 Apr 2004 15:33:08 -0700

" Scott Turner " <sturner

RE: Digest Number 808

 

Noel,

 

She should worry actually, just not panic.

 

read over the link that I sent too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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