eeter than sucrose, and began being used as a food additive in 1981. It quickly became controversial, as over 7000 complaints were filed against the sweetener, claiming that it was causing headaches and seizures. It has since been tested in over 100 studies using animals and humans, including a double-blind study which proved that it was in fact not the cause of these adverse reactions. Subsequent studies of long-term use of this product have shown it to be safe for human consumption. Aspartame is the sweetening agent in Equal, and is currently used in diet sodas, yogurt, fruit spreads, candies and cereals.Sucralose, a relatively new sweetener, is a derivative of refined sugar. It was discovered at Tate & Lyle, a British sugar company, by a tester who accidentally thought he was a taster. He sampled the chlorinated sugar, which is 600 times sweeter than sucrose, and really liked it. Over 110 studies have been done in animals and humans to test the safety of this sweetener, and it has shown no negative side effects. In 1998, sucralose was approved for general use as a tabletop sweetener as well as for use in products such as carbonated beverages, puddings, baked goods, syrups and chewing gum. Its been a long road for alternative sweeteners, with continuous testing and criticism about their safety. Ultimately our society has benefited from the discovery and use of these low calorie sugar substitutes. Diabetics can now enjoy the tastes they crave without the adverse effects that excessive sugar can cause. Dieters can drink sugar-free sodas and eat certain sweets without worrying about their caloric contents. Although studies have proven that saccharine, aspartame and sucralose are all safe for human consumption, any possible slight risks of cancers and headaches would be offset by the far greater risk of obesity, cardio vascular disease and diabetes that can be attributed to the over consumption of convenience foods made with ...
