News, Rivals Argue Splenda's 'Made From Sugar' Claim Confuses Consumers.

[mjyanez]

My main problem is that I've heard Splenda is tested on animals. A friend told me they contract out and use Huntington Life Sciences ( a large co. that tests on animals) and I've emailed Splenda 2x and never heard back. I can't get down with that.

[dagnabulous]

I am getting frustrated by each side of this dispute laying down heavy loads of bull to make their case.

First Splenda's advertising slogan is completely accurate. They do not say it is a naturally occurring product. They say it is made from sugar and it is, in fact, made from sugar. No, it is not a naturally occuring product, but to discount their slogan because it does not occur in nature is like saying that steel pipes are not "made from steel" because steel pipes do not occur in nature.

Secondly, splenda is not a carcinogen, and not like drinking raid as others have put it, simply because it comes from a chemical group, some compounds of which are carcinogens. Chlorinated compounds aren't deadly off the bat. Take "Sodium Cholride" for instance. I happen to like table salt. I'm not saying Splenda isn't in any way bad for you, I'm no chemist, but if you say it is like eating pesticide you should be hit with a steel pipe [Refer to previous paragraph].

Oddly enough, Merisant Co.'s [Equal] slander campaign came shortly after they lost a lawsuit to the Splenda company [in Puerto Rico] for packaging Equal in little YELLOW packets. Curious that they would say that Splenda is trying to mislead consumers. Very curious indeed.

The argument about Thymus shrinkage is flawed simply because the amount fed to rats would be equivalent 20,000 packets of splenda per day, for 28 days. At least present both sides if you want to make a case.

Next, it really shows lack of proof when you try to insult the other side. Not everyone that uses Splenda is trying to cram in as much junk food as humanly possible. Some are diabetics, some are on a diet, and some are simply trying to balance out their sugar intake.

As for my personal opinion, I like splenda. But that's me.

I will agree with MoMark on one point; Turbinado sugar is good, especially in coffee and tea.

As to the comment about stevia, you might want to look it up, as there is some controversy surrounding it in Europe, but I don't know any specifics. I was going to try it but I think I will be reading a bit more into it first.

As far as animal testing goes, Splenda along with every other artificial sweetener on the market, is tested on rats. Sucks that there isn't a better way, but the same goes for most pharmaceutical research.

As for my information, it was gathered through various web research, including wikipedia, the sugar foundations anti-splenda website, Splenda's website, The FDA Splenda approval page etc.

Splenda does not have zero calories, rather it has 2 calories per teaspoon, but due to an FDA ruling, they allow them to claim zero. I disagree with this, as it is a outright lie.

I may check back for further comments, but you may contact me at xenotonin@gimail.af.mil if you have any questions or comments.

[Miss Blue]

Shouldn't eat this,don't eat that. I am really old, and have always eaten whatever I wanted and I am healthy as can be. As far as calories go, between real sugar and splenda , not enough to get excited about, as far as toxins go, I just hope my digestive system keeps doing the job it is supposed to do. I have splenda, sweet/low and regular sugar in the cupboard and use all of them...Wait a minute, I am really 39 years old.